Spanish government wants masks worn in hospitals & health centres as viruses surge

With the increase in respiratory infections, ‘we are calling’ for the return of obligatory mask-wearing in hospitals and health centres, Health Minister Mónica García said on X (formerly Twitter).

The minister said she would bring up the subject on Monday at a meeting with regional representatives overseeing health issues.

‘Given the resurgence of respiratory viruses, we have to take care of each other. We once again convene an extraordinary Council with the Autonomous Communities to promote coordinated actions that help desaturate health services,’ said García.

The meeting would enable ‘coordinated public health action to be taken in the face of the epidemic spikes’.

Valencia and Catalonia already said on Friday that health professionals and patients would have to wear masks in medical facilities in those regions.

The move came after doctors raised the alarm over mounting cases of flu as well as Covid and other respiratory ailments, particularly in the east of the country.

Spain only lifted the obligatory wearing of masks in high-risk facilities such as hospitals, retirement homes and pharmacies in July 2023. ALSO READ: Spain calls an end to obligatory use of face masks in hospitals, pharmacies.

Spaniards broadly complied with the obligation to wear masks during the Covid pandemic which saw the badly-hit nation adopt some of the strictest measures in the world to fight the virus.

Click here to read all our previous reports on the Covid pandemic in Spain.

Ante el repunte de virus respiratorios, tenemos que cuidarnos mutuamente.
Convocamos nuevamente un Consejo extraordinario con las CC.AA. para empujar acciones coordinadas que ayuden a desaturar los servicios de salud. pic.twitter.com/rJhZFx6NjZ

— Mónica García (@Monica_Garcia_G) January 5, 2024