Like its predecessors, winter 2024 will not escape sanitary masks. From Wednesday January 10, they will again be compulsory in hospitals and public health centers in Spain.
A government decision which was decided this Monday during a meeting with representatives of the different regions of the country. And which comes only six months after the ban was lifted last July…
Surge in cases of respiratory viruses
The objective? Harmonize regulations across the entire territory, at a time when Spain is facing the return of winter viruses. In recent weeks, doctors have continued to sound the alarm, pointing to an increase in the number of cases of influenza infection, Covid-19, and a plethora of other respiratory viruses. And question the government on the situation of “saturation” in the centers.
Seeing anger growing as the number of cases increases, the executive called last Friday for the temporary return of the mask in all health establishments in the territory. Faced with 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, Spanish Minister of Health Monica Garcia declared on X ( formerly Twitter).
Interregional divergences
If several regions are reluctant to reverse the repeal of this measure, others have already taken the plunge. This is the case in Valencia, where the obligation was restored on January 5 for all health professionals and patients present in health establishments in the region.
It must be said that the southeastern region of Spain is one of the territories with the highest incidence of respiratory viruses. According to the latest epidemiological bulletin published Thursday January 4 by the Carlos III Health Institute, 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were recorded during the last week of the year, compared to 952.9 on average in national scale.
At the start of the week, Catalonia followed in the footsteps of its neighbor on the Mediterranean coast, by returning to the compulsory wearing of masks in health establishments. But unlike Valencia, pharmacies and nursing homes are not affected. Although it remains strongly recommended by health authorities.
An oil stain measure?
Spain is not the only one to backtrack. Across Europe, masks are once again popular in a number of regions. This is the case in France, in Haute-Savoie, in the hospitals of Chambéry and Aix-les-Bains, since December 13. In Belgium, experts from the Risk Assessment Group met again to discuss possible new measures in mid-December.
Unlike Italy, which ended the measure on December 31, despite a health situation under high tension and saturation of health services. As if we had to turn this painful page at all costs to better engage in the new year.