Spain’s Minister of Health, announced this Thursday that the Council of Ministers will aprove the end of the mandatory use of masks on public transport on February 7th, so this would mean that the measure will start to be applied from February 8th.

Face masks will still continue to be mandatory when going to health centers, including clinics of all kinds and pharmacies.

The requirement was first introduced in May 2020. The rule had applied to passengers aged six or over on all forms of public transport, including flights, which meant some people boarding flights to Spain were asked to wear a mask – although implementation would have varied between airlines.

Now the requirement will be dropped from all non-health settings.

Masks are still mandatory on some or all public transport in some European countries, including Austria, Germany, Greece and Spain.

• Germany continues to require the use of face masks on long-distance trains and buses, but plans to abolish this rule on 2 February.
• In Greece, the rule expires on 31 January.
• Tourists travelling in Europe, including the UK, may find that even though the mask regulation has expired, some people continue to wear them, particularly on public transport.
• In other countries, such as Australia, facemasks may be required to be worn in certain places during cruise travel.
• Cyprus brought back the measure this summer in response to an increase in Covid infections. It is mandatory on public transport and inside hospitals, health centres, residential homes, accommodation centres for vulnerable groups and pharmacies.
• Slovakia. Masks are no longer mandatory on public transport but are mandatory in health facilities and pharmacies.

Only travellers from China arriving in Spain are subject to vaccination or testing requirements. After China announced that it would resume international travel on 8 January, a specific rule for arrivals from China was reinstated.