Story at a glance
- Crowds of protesters flocked to the Spanish capital Sunday in opposition to mask requirements just days after the government introduced a series of new restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19.
- Demonstrators at Madrid’s Plaza de Colon chanted “freedom” and held up signs, some of which read “The virus does not exist,” “Masks kill,” and “We are not afraid.”
- At least 200 anti-mask protesters also gathered in Brussels Sunday.
Hundreds of people gathered in several European cities over the weekend to protest against mandatory mask mandates and other coronavirus restrictions as cases continue to rise in several parts of the continent.
Crowds of protesters flocked to the Spanish capital Sunday in opposition to mask requirements just days after the government introduced a series of new restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. Some of the restrictions include nightclub closures and a ban on smoking in public when it is not possible to social distance from others.
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Demonstrators at Madrid’s Plaza de Colon chanted “freedom” and held up signs, some of which read “The virus does not exist,” “Masks kill,” and “We are not afraid,” according to the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Many protesters were not wearing masks during the rally.
The mandatory use of masks was put in place in May for those using public transportation and was later expanded to the rest of the country.
“They are forcing us to use a mask, they want us to stay home practically locked up. It’s obvious that they are continuously tricking us with talk of outbreaks. It’s all a lie,” one protester told AFP at the demonstration.
Following the lifting of its three-month lockdown in June, Spain has seen a spike in new infections. The country has confirmed more than 359,000 cases and 28,000 deaths.
An anti-mask demonstration of more than 200 people was also held in the Belgian capital of Brussels Sunday, with some rally goers holding up signs reading “Corona circus” and “It’s my body, it’s my choice,” according to EUobserver. Masks were made mandatory in Brussels last week in parks, on streets or in any other public spaces.
The move came as the Belgian capital recorded an average 50 cases per 100,000 people over the last week.
Both demonstrations drew conspiracy theorists and anti-vaccination activists, according to local reports.
The number of COVID-19 cases from France to Ukraine has risen sharply as lockdown measures were eased. The French government on Friday declared the cities of Paris, Marseilles and surrounding regions as “red zones” following a recent increase in new coronavirus cases over the past several weeks
Public health officials have largely agreed that widespread mask-wearing can dramatically reduce the spread of COVID-19.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the use of cloth masks or facial coverings when it isn’t possible to stay at least 6 feet away from others in public spaces.
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