Face masks mandatory in several places
Face masks must be worn in public transport and other passenger transport, on aircraft at airports and secondary schools. This applies to everone aged 13 and over. Make sure the mask covers your nose, mouth and chin.
The information on this website may change following the press conference, held at 7 pm on 14 September.
Read the rules on face masks in Bulgarian, Chinese, English, French, German, Polish, Spanish and Turkish.
Wearing a face mask correctly
Make sure the mask covers your nose, mouth and chin. Only touch the mask with clean hands. Keep your mask on wherever it is mandatory to do so, even if there are no other people around.
See the instructions on wearing a face mask, available in several languages.
Type of face mask
Use face masks made for use by the general public. The use of transparent face shields instead of a face mask is not permitted.
Changes to face mask requirement as of 26 June 2021
From 26 June 2021 face masks are required on public transport and other passenger transport, at stations and airports and in secondary schools. You must wear a face mask even if you have been vaccinated.
Reason that face masks are mandatory
The face mask requirement now applies only in places where it is not always possible to stay 1.5 metres away from others. This measure is intended to help stop coronavirus from spreading. Wearing a face mask mainly protects others around you. And if others wear a face mask, they are protecting you.
Settings in which face masks are mandatory
Indoor spaces: building manager decides
Building managers can decide that you must wear a face mask in their building, even if face masks are not required there by law. They can include a face mask requirement in their house rules. Protocols have been drawn up in some sectors including for:
- healthcare locations, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices and physiotherapy centres;
- community centres, churches and mosques;
- testing centres and vaccination centres run by the municipal health service (GGD).
Fines
If you do not wear a face mask in a place where you must wear one, you may be fined.
Face masks not harmful
The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that face masks are not harmful. They do not cause a lack of oxygen or carbon dioxide poisoning. Oxygen and carbon dioxide can simply pass through the face mask.
Wearing a mask may sometimes be a little uncomfortable, so you should wear one that fits you well.