Sharjah24 – AFP: A few smiles were visible in Madrid on Saturday but most kept their faces covered as Spain dropped its requirement for people to wear masks in the street.

It's been a legal requirement to wear a mask in the open air for just over a year, with offenders risking a fine, but in Madrid's Puerta del Sol Square, few could be seen with their faces uncovered. 

Masks first became obligatory on public transport in early May 2020 in a bid to reduce Covid-19 infections, and within weeks were made compulsory in the street for anyone aged six and above.

People may now remove their masks in the open air as long as they keep 1.5 metres (5 feet) away from each other, but should cover up if that's not possible, health officials said this week.

And masks remain obligatory on public transport or in taxis or cars carrying people who don't live together.

- 'A mask is essential these days' -
The decision was approved by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's cabinet on Thursday and comes as vaccination rates rise and infections continue to fall. 

So far, more than half of Spain's 47 million population have had a first dose of the vaccine, with one in every three people fully vaccinated, figures showed Friday.

Many shoppers, however, insisted they would continue wearing masks until the situation was a bit more stable.

Earlier this year, Spain briefly introduced a law making masks obligatory at all times on the beach, but after a backlash it was amended. Now they are not necessary while sunbathing or swimming -- if social distancing is respected.

Spain has so far lost over 80,000 lives to the virus and counted more than 3.7 million cases.