The Ministry of Health will propose a ban on smoking on the exterior terraces of hotels and food and beverage establishments throughout the country. Whether or not the two-meter safety distance between individuals can be maintained.
Public health sources explained to Efe that this proposal should not be discussed at the Public Health Commission meeting on Thursday. The draft is an open working document like many others, always subject to technical considerations.
The draft, to which Efe has had access, proposes this measure “with the dual objective of acting on smoking as a risk factor for infection and contagion of COVID-19, together with the need to contribute to controlling the evolution of the disease in Spain”.
In its written statement, the Health Department stresses that there are currently 6 communities (Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Cantabria, Valencian Community, Asturias and Aragon) that, according to new evidence, “have made progress in the measures and have banned” the consumption of different tobacco products on outdoor terraces. Apart from maintaining the interpersonal safety distance of two meters.
In addition, the Ministry of Health indicates that other communities are currently studying the application of this measure, have made recommendations in this regard or are in favour of implementing it.