Madrid's controversial corona campaign: cremation warmer than a mask
A campaign launched by the Spanish capital, Madrid, to encourage its residents to consistently comply with the mask mandate has sparked considerable controversy.
The equally controversial and impressive video "Protégete, protégenos!" (Protect yourself, protect us!) shows a cremation at the end and warns those who refuse to wear a mask: "Cremation oven: 980 degrees. There are things that cause more heat than a protective mask".
It was in "very bad taste" and "disrespectful", complained social network users. Some media described the campaign as "harsh" and "brutal" - but participants in TV talk shows countered that raising people's awareness was necessary in view of the rise in new infections and the irresponsibly lax attitude of many people.
In Madrid, almost everyone complies with the obligation to wear a face mask, even outdoors. But in pubs and restaurants and at evening gatherings of larger groups in public and private spaces, increasingly careless behavior can be seen, especially among younger people.
Many people complain that with temperatures in Madrid exceeding 35 degrees almost every day in summer, wearing a mask outdoors is torture - especially if you can keep the legally prescribed minimum distance of one and a half meters. The answer in the video: "Your apartment in summer: 32 degrees. Beers with friends: 30 degrees. Disco: 28 degrees. Hospital: 25 degrees. Intensive care unit: 22 degrees. Cremation oven: 980 degrees."
In the former coronavirus hotspot of Spain, Madrid has been hit harder by the pandemic than any other region in the country, with more than 8,400 deaths. Although the situation has eased considerably, the number of new infections has been steadily increasing since the end of the lockdown - mostly among people up to the age of 40.
According to the latest official figures, Spain has so far registered a total of 305,000 infections and around 28,500 deaths. Switzerland only added the Spanish mainland to the list of risk areas on Wednesday. Last week, the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin advised against traveling to the regions of Catalonia, Aragon and Navarre in the north-east of the country, which are particularly affected by new outbreaks. (SDA)
