As the country’s COVID-19 cases increase, Health Minister Salvador Illa announces a nationwide ban on smoking where social distancing is not possible, reports News Agency AFP.

Two of Spain’s regions, Galicia and the Canary Islands, had already implemented a ban on smoking in the street and now the rest of the regions look to be following suit. Spain’s Health Minister Salvador Illa unveiled new measures to battle the coronavirus as the country recorded 3,000 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours. According to News Agency AFP, smoking in the street where social distancing cannot be guaranteed will now be forbidden nationwide. The ban is in line with World Health Organization recommendations that found there was a link between smoking and the spread of the virus. Further measures include, closing discos and nightclubs completely and enforcing a curfew on restaurants and bars that must now close by 1 am.