Spain makes masks compulsory in public, including outdoors

Spain has made it compulsory for all citizens, including children over six, to wear masks in public spaces started from Thursday as one of Europe's strictest lockdowns gradually unwinds.

The Health Ministry order said the masks are efficient in curbing the coronavirus to keep a two-meter distance.

Spain's government said on Tuesday it would seek parliament's approval to extend the state of emergency by another fortnight, until June 7, as the current state of emergency is set to expire on Saturday, after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had initially said he would seek an extension of around a month.

Spain has recorded 27,778 deaths and had 232,037 cases of COVID-19 infection according to the latest data, while the tourism-dependent economy is forecast to contract up to 12.4 percent in 2020 due to its virtual paralysis since mid-March.