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The Catalan government plans to provide everyone who lives in Catalonia with a first face mask for free, so that people can better protect themselves from coronavirus infection. This was announced by the presidency minister, Meritxell Budó, at this Thursday's daily press conference on the evolution of the pandemic. Earlier, president Quim Torra had already said that his executive had placed an order for 14 million masks.

"In the coming weeks the masks will be received and next week we will have the first 100,000," said the minister.

Distribution via pharmacies

These are masks purchased for the public, in addition to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that are needed by medical staff. They have been purchased via a Catalan company and are to be picked up by Catalan residents at pharmacies, using their health card.

With regard to the masks, the minister made a request to Catalan residents, and specifically, to those who are able to maintain their home isolation next week, after the return to work for those in non-essential jobs as ruled by the Spanish executive. Meritxell Budó asked people who can stay home to leave the first masks that will arrive next week for their fellow Catalans who have to return to work.

"We consider it absolutely necessary that when people go out, everyone should use wear masks and gloves, so that people carry out the exercise of self-protection," she said.

Scaling down measures 

With the lifting of total confinement, which is expected to impact particularly on Tuesday, since Easter Monday is a public holiday in Catalonia, the Catalan administration is considering measures to guarantee protection on public transport and has called on companies to be flexible on job starting times to help prevent rush hour commuter crowds, in addition to ensuring workers have safe distances between one another while on the job, and facilitating distance working whenever possible.

Minister Budó also warned that the restrictions on journeys that are not for reasons of basic necessity will continue in force.

In this regard, health minister Alba Vergés added that the lifting of lockdown will be gradual in Catalonia, and will start with the healthiest and least vulnerable people, while those at risk will be the last to leave confinement.

The Catalan executive was once again critical of the Spanish government's decision to lift the lockdown on non-essential workers starting next week. "This virus has two allies: hastiness and recklessness," warned Budó, recalling that although the numbers of new cases are falling, the number of people infected remains high.

"The World Health Organization said it themselves yesterday," concluded the Catalan minister, "we can't allow ourselves to relax."