After registering the decrease in hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19 in recent weeks and the end of the third wave confirmed by the Sometimes, the Government approved new sanitary measures that will take effect from this Sunday, May 1. One of these flexibilities will be the optional or voluntary use of masks in open spaces, which will be fulfilled in Metropolitan LimaLima provinces, Callao, Ica and Ancash.
This measure is part of Supreme Decree Nº 041-2022-PCMpublished last Saturday, April 23, which extended the state of emergency for 31 calendar days from next May 1.
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In which regions will masks no longer be worn?
The use of the mask will be optional only in open spaces and in regions where 80% of the population over 60 years of age have 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and 80% of vaccination coverage of people 12 years of age or older with 2 doses.
The jurisdictions that meet these requirements are: Metropolitan Lima, Lima provinces, Callao, Ica and Ancash. In the rest of the regions, the use of a mask is still mandatory in open and closed spaces.
Although the use of masks in open spaces is optional, this must be complied with as long as physical or bodily distancing is guaranteed.
It is important to specify that the Supreme Decree clarifies that, The use of a KN95 mask or, failing that, a three-fold surgical mask and on top of it a community mask (fabric) is still mandatory, to circulate on public roads and in closed places..
Only in educational institutions will social distancing not be applied, following the Council of Ministers approved the operation of schools and colleges with a capacity of 100%. The rule clarifies that in the rest of social and commercial activities, physical distancing must be respected, not less than 1 meterbetween people.
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What are the open spaces where you will stop wearing a mask?
Here we detail the list of some of the open spaces where you can decide whether to wear your mask or not.
- Beaches.
- Zonal parks, country clubs, among other similar.
- Protected natural areas, botanical gardens, monuments or archaeological areas, open-air museums and zoos.
- Outdoor thermal baths.
- Outdoor sports clubs and associations.
- Restaurants and the like in outdoor areas.
- Outdoor business and professional events.
- Itinerant markets.
- As well as performing arts activities and cultural education in open spaces.
medical recommendation
The former Deputy Minister of Health, Percy Minayaconsidered that the optional use of the mask in open spaces is a measure “rational”taking into account the favorable epidemiological scenario in which the country finds itself, but stressed that care must be maintained.
“Although one can remove the mask in open places, it is regarding there being no public around, that there are no other people at least two meters away. It is not that I go to Jirón de la Unión, Gamarra or the Central Market, which are free environments, but they are full of people. If there is a lot of contact, I still have the same level of risk as if I were in a closed place”, he specified in dialogue with RPP.
