The surge in winter viruses is pushing the Spanish government to act. On Friday, he called for the temporary return of masks to hospitals and health centers. Noting the “notable increase in infections by respiratory viruses”, “we call” for the return of “compulsory masks in sanitary and socio-sanitary spaces” in the country, Minister of Health Monica Garcia declared on X.
The minister, who mentioned public “hospitals” and “health centers”, where a large part of the consultations are carried out, specified that she would address this subject during a meeting on Monday with representatives of the different Spanish regions, who have control over health issues.
This meeting will make it possible “to take coordinated public health actions in the face of these winter epidemic peaks,” she added, ensuring that the regions had “the competence” and therefore “the responsibility to implement appropriate measures” in front of this situation.
Catalonia anticipates
This decision was taken while doctors have been sounding the alarm for several days regarding the increase in cases of flu, but also of Covid-19 or other respiratory viruses. The eastern regions of the country are particularly affected. The Valencia region and Catalonia have already announced that they are making the wearing of masks compulsory for healthcare professionals and patients in their healthcare establishments.
During the pandemic, the obligation to wear a mask was very widely respected in Spain. In spring 2020, the confinement put in place by the Spanish authorities was among the strictest in the world. The compulsory wearing of masks was only lifted in July 2023 in places likely to accommodate people at risk.