The region of Galicia and the Canary Islands have banned smoking in public areas to help curb the transmission of COVID-19, reports BBC News.
Spain has one of the worst COVID-19 infection rates in western Europe which is why the region of Galicia has now issued a blanket ban that forbids smoking in the street and any public places where social distancing is not possible, reports BBC News.
Health ministry research shows that the risk of spreading COVID-19 was increased by smokers because people project droplets when they smoke and also touch their masks and mouth during the process.
"Smoking with no limits… with people close by and without any social distancing [poses] a high risk of infection," regional President Alberto Núñez Feijóo said in a news conference.
The Canary Islands have imposed a similar ban and have become the last Spanish region to make face masks in public spaces mandatory. According to BBC News, other areas such as Madrid, Andalusia and Valencia are also considering bringing in smoking restrictions.