Portugal approves mandatory use of masks outdoors

Portugal's parliament has passed a law making it mandatory to wear face masks in many outdoor situations.

The law approved Friday means that anyone aged 10 or older must wear a mask in public spaces whenever it is "impractical" to keep at least a 2-meter distance from others.

Police will enforce the measure. Failure to comply entails a fine of up to 500 euros.

The measure has been approved one day after Portugal posted a new record of officially reported daily infections of 3,270 cases.

On Thursday the Portuguese government also announced it is banning people from traveling between counties on the weekend of Halloween and All Saints' Day.

The government said Thursday the travel restriction from midnight October 30 to midnight November 3 is aimed at discouraging family gatherings, which are blamed for most of the country's new infections.

The government also declared a day of national mourning on November 2 for COVID-19 victims.

Portugal has recorded an average of more than 2,000 new cases a day for the past two weeks.

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