The Basque nation will say goodbye tomorrow to masks in confined spaces, but there have been plenty of European countries that have said goodbye to masks in recent months and have embraced a new normality that, in some cases, has translated into a rebound in positive cases. . .

The UK was one of the first countries in Europe to remove masks with an incidence of nearly 2,000 infections. The impact of the decision is impacted during the first weeks, after which the incidence curve drops again.

“It’s time to reopen Sweden,” Sweden’s prime minister assured days before bidding farewell to masks in the Nordic country, where the pandemic has been reduced to a minimum. According to the latest official data, 119 cases per 100,000 population have been recorded.

Norway removed some of the restrictions that remained in place in early February after removing face masks, becoming one of the countries least affected by the pandemic, with 1,513 deaths.

The Netherlands lifted most of its pandemic restrictions two months ago, including masks, with a decline in incidents since then.

Positive cases in Ireland have doubled since the indoor shield was removed in late February. Currently the rebound is 700 points compared to two months ago.

The Austrian government, which decided to remove the protections in early March, retraces its steps just two weeks after the decision after the incidence of the virus doubled in days.

In Belgium, the virus continues to retreat a month and a half after the Government lifted all restrictions.

The neighboring country said goodbye to protection a month ago and in the first week alone the cumulative incidence of the coronavirus rose 36%. Currently the rate is almost 500 points higher.

Since February 1, the coronavirus has been “not categorized” as a dangerous disease in Denmark, as recognized by its Ministry of Health. The Scandinavian country puts everything on a high immunization rate —80%—to get rid of the shield with an incidence of over 9,000 cases.

Germany has become the latest country to lift mask restrictions. It happened earlier this month and, for now, the incidence of the virus has continued to decline.