Have to wear face masks, even without clothes, in naturist zone?

[SunWorshipper]

El Pais is reporting today that:

"Meanwhile, the number of regional governments making face masks compulsory in public spaces keeps growing. Aragón, Asturias, Cantabria, Navarre, La Rioja, Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Extremadura, Andalusia and Murcia have either made the face coverings mandatory or are about to. And in the Valencia region, Premier Ximo Puig said on Monday that he is seriously considering the option and that the regional government will reach a decision this week.

The new rules make face masks compulsory in public even when a social distance of 1.5 meters between people can be observed. although exceptions are made for eating and drinking, at beaches and swimming pools, and when exercising."

Does this mean that naturists will have to wear masks when walking around the naturist zone's empty streets, despite not having to wear clothes?

The existing 1.5 metre face mask rule makes sense and has some scientific basis. But why should one have to wear a mask outdoors when there's nobody within 50 metres, let alone 1.5 metres? It seems that this new rule lacks any scientific basis and is probably going to be used only as a revenue-generating ruse by the police with no effect at all on reducing the spread of the virus.

[SunWorshipper]

http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/presidencia/portavoz/destacadosportada/consejodegobierno/153286/ConsejodeGobierno/Covid19/Andalucia/usoobligatoriodemascarillas/proteccion/Saludpublica/ConsejeriadeSaludyFamilias/JuntadeAndalucia/GobiernodeAndalucia

Por otro lado, no será necesario llevar la mascarilla en las playas y piscinas durante el baño y mientras se permanezca en un espacio determinado, siempre y cuando se pueda respetar la distancia de seguridad interpersonal entre los usuarios. En cambio, para los desplazamientos y paseos en las playas y piscinas sí será obligatorio el uso de mascarilla.

[Bisnick]

I arrived on Tuesday afternoon and the order was made for Wednesday. It is compulsory to wear a mask at all times apart from eating and drinking in a public bar/cafe even when you go to the toilet.
 You need to wear when you walk to the beach and to your final resting place also if you walk along the edge. Today I stood on the waters edge wondering whether to go in or not as the waves were a little on the large side and a young girl who is beach security came up and said I had spent to much time on the edge either go in or return to my towel. she was telling everyone else the same. Everyone is complying with the law apart from a few and they are promptly told to cover up. Is it a pain ? No.
 Its surprising how you become used to wearing them. It has become second nature already.
 No empty streets at the moment there are people walking everywhere. 

[SunWorshipper]

a young girl who is beach security

I knew there were already lifeguards for beach safety, but have they always also had beach security or is this a new thing for covid?

[Bisnick]

Its new for Covid, as it was so busy this weekend they were stood on the walkways onto the beach and directing you to the sections with spaces.

Out this evening unfortunately there seemed to be a growing number of people that think its ok to wear your mask under your chin in the busy sections of hotel street.

A group of textiles (6) only one with a mask who walked in from Palomares direction and were gawping didn't notice the security stood on the waters edge  were given short shrift and sent packing, they were not happy!
Looks like the gentle reminders given last week are moving into enforcement by wednesday.

[SunWorshipper]

Looks like the gentle reminders given last week are moving into enforcement by wednesday.

Do these beach security people have any enforcement powers? Can they issue fines, or would that need police?

[Bisnick]

I really don't know but they have radios so I imagine they would call in the local police.
This morning the police were driving along the waters edge at 08.15 and stopping people not wearing mask correctly.

[SunWorshipper]

This morning the police were driving along the waters edge at 08.15 and stopping people not wearing mask correctly.

I wonder why they are targeting an environment where the risk of virus transmission is close to zero. Their time would be better spent where people walk closer together such as streets with shops and cafés, as well as supermarkets. It sounds like the police are picking the low hanging fruit with zero benefit for public health. By doing this, they will alienate tourists who won't want to come back to Spain in healthier times. Thoroughly incompetent, lazy and ineffective policing.

[avalarf]

If there are many new cases they will introduce local lockdowns and close beaches, it is far easier to comply with the rules than suffer the consequences of that or worse, catching this extremely easily spread disease.

[SunWorshipper]

If there are many new cases they will introduce local lockdowns and close beaches, it is far easier to comply with the rules than suffer the consequences of that or worse, catching this extremely easily spread disease.

I think you have missed the point I'm making. I'm not questioning whether one should comply with the law. I question:

• Whether there is any public health benefit of a law requiring masks to be worn in circumstances where social distancing of 5, 10 or 50 metres or even more can be maintained.
• Why Spanish regional governments believe they understand the science of the virus better than the Spanish national government.
• Whether the police are enforcing the law in a way that will have the greatest health benefit, for example by targeting almost empty beaches at 8:15am.
• Whether the law is being misused as a means of revenue generation (from fines) rather than a means of protecting public health.
• Whether the law and its enforcement methods will drive tourists away without the upside of a public health benefit.
• Whether those with exemptions (asthma and other respiratory conditions) will be frequently harassed by enforcers.
  

[avalarf]

Sorry there, my opinion is that anything that stops the spread has to help.....Until there is a vaccine or treatment or it is totally eliminated from an area there is a risk, however small.

[SunWorshipper]

Sorry there, my opinion is that anything that stops the spread has to help

I agree with this point. I totally support all measures that genuinely stop the spread of the virus, in particular the Spanish national government's policy on face masks. But how does requiring face masks to be worn on a beach, where people are 50 metres apart at 8:15am, stop the spread of the virus?

[VC]

I won’t go into judgmental mode concerning political measures for whatever reason the government and the population see fit. But for the first time since 2005 I’m giving VP a miss. In fact, even my beloved region of Galicia, with their wonderful pine trees surrounded naturist beaches with steady water (although cold) will be given a miss this year for the first time in 20 years.

All I want to add is that either this is a one-off year or, otherwise, the Spain we know and love will be lost for many years to come.