Madeira is the first Portuguese region to make it compulsory to wear a mask, even outdoors and even when safety distances can be respected. From next Saturday, August 1st, it will be compulsory to wear a mask in all public spaces of Madeira and even in the streets. The decision of the regional government of Madeira was announced this afternoon and is part of a package of new measures that will be implemented in the archipelago in order to fight against the covid-19 pandemic, which has yet no deaths from the start. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the mandatory mask wearing even outdoors and with social distancing in Madeira.
Madeira imposes mandatory masks even outdoors despite no deaths since the start of the pandemic
From August 1, the use of masks in the streets of Madeira will be compulsory. The news is brought forward by the Portuguese newspaper Diário de Notícias da Madeira, which indicates that the government has confirmed this new measure in order to fight against the coronavirus epidemic.
The matter was under discussion in the Board of Governors last Thursday, confirming today the conclusion of the same meeting. The decision of the regional government aims to prevent transmission in public places and even outdoors.
The use of the mask in Madeira has been compulsory since April 22nd in activities that include contact with the public and has also become the rule of commercial spaces and public transport in the Autonomous Region since May 1st.
Since the start of the pandemic, Madeira has experienced 105 cases of covid-19, eight of which are still active. With no deaths and only one person having undergone intensive care, the autonomous region has relied on these statistics to accelerate the recovery of tourism, the main economic engine of the archipelago. However, the obligation to wear a mask outdoors could be an additional obstacle to the return of tourists.
