Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia, three Spanish regions, are making masks compulsory again in health centers and hospitals due to the increase in cases of Covid-19 and flu.
- Three regions – Catalonia, Valencia, Murcia – have made the wearing of masks compulsory in health centers and hospitals.
- In the Valencia region, wearing a mask is compulsory in hospital waiting and consultation rooms and in socio-health centers such as nursing homes.
- The Spanish Minister of Health, Mónica García, will propose the generalization of the wearing of masks in health centers throughout the country.
Faced with the increase in cases of flu and Covid-19, three Spanish regions – Catalonia, Valencia and Murcia – are once again making masks compulsory in health centers and hospitals.
Increase in cases of flu and Covid-19
According to El País, the Valencia region is one of those with the highest incidence of respiratory viruses in Spain. The daily reports the figures from the latest epidemiological bulletin of the Carlos III Health Institute : from December 25 to 31, there was 1,501 cases of acute respiratory infections per 100,000 inhabitantsa figure well above the Spanish average which is 952.9.
Thus, since Friday January 5, wearing a mask is again compulsory in waiting and consultation rooms in hospitals in the Valencia region as well as in socio-health centers, particularly nursing homes.
In Catalonia, in one month, flu cases have tripled. Within two to three weeks, the peak of contagion should be reached. Faced with this situation, Manel Balcells, the Catalan Minister of Health, reacted. He also announced the return of the mask to health centers and hospitals in the region as of Monday, December 8. But it is not obligatory in socio-health centers.
The increase in the number of respitaroris viruses had to be decided that in Catalunya the mask was obligatory in health centers.
Agreeixo la tasca des professionals en aquests de incidència del flu virus i afeccions respiratòries. https://t.co/J7vqsuBrtX— Manel Balcells (@manelbalcells) January 5, 2024
Will wearing a mask soon be compulsory throughout Spain?
In Murcia, masks have been compulsory for health professionals in centers since Saturday January 6. On the other hand, patients are not forced to wear it, it is simply recommended to them, as in all closed spaces at risk, with crowds.
This Friday, Mónica García, the Spanish Minister of Health, announced in La Sexta that she would propose to generalize the compulsory wearing of masks to the entire country”temporarily in sanitary and social spaces, which are the most vulnerable places“.
