Catalonia's Civil Protection agency, in its frequently updated FAQs on lockdown in Catalonia, now recommends covering your nose and mouth with a mask or a similar item when you go shopping. It's a measure that has been recommended by some of Catalonia's top epidemiological experts such as Dr. Bonaventura Clotet and Oriol Mitjà.
But until recently, Spanish health authorities took a different line on the issue to those with experience of the virus in Asia. Part of the reason for that was to ensure that essential supplies were not exhausted before they got to the healthcare professionals who need them most. Now, one of the possibilities suggested for non-professionals is making your own. And this Friday, Spanish health emergency coordinator Fernando Simón even raised the possibility that Spain could move to generalise the wearing of masks.
In the latest update to its coronavirus lockdown questions and answers, the Catalan government's Civil Protection agency advises in favour of masks, as well as recommending wearing gloves when you touch food, taking your own shopping bag or cart, and of course, washing your hands well on returning home. The FAQs page also suggests that if you take a supermarket trolley, you should use a disinfectant to clean the handle, before you use it.
Other changes in the latest version of the FAQs document include some amendments that make rules even stricter, while others include new exemptions. For example, funeral vigils and memorial ceremonies are now almost completely prohibited during the current coronavirus emergency, except for burials or cremations at which a maximum of three family or friends can be present.
On the other hand, emergency repairs of basic services, such as electricity, heating and gas, water and telecoms, which were not included in the exemption before, have now been explicitly listed. However, the opening of commercial premises by those repair firms is not allowed.
And also, you are now allowed to use your scooter- but only if you are using it to make one of the relatively limited number of essential journeys (also defined in the FAQs document).
ElNacional.cat's English translation of the evolving FAQs document is here. Check out the Catalan Civil Protection page here.