Return of the mask: Spain reintroduces anti-Covid measure after worrying surge in infections
Facemasks will be mandatory in all hospitals and health settings in Spain from Wednesday January 10
Masks will once again be mandatory in all public health settings throughout Spain from Wednesday January 10 given the astonishing rise in acute respiratory infections. Several regions, including Andalucia, voted against reintroducing the measure but the Spanish government has confirmed that the rule will be rolled out across the board regardless.
However, regional governments have been invited to formally submit any rejections and the reasons for them within the next 48 hours.
Last week, the Region of Murcia, the Valencian Community and Catalonia all introduced the safety measure, last in force at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, when influenza A and Covid cases in particular began to surge following the Christmas period.
Head of the Ministry of Health, Monica Garcia, argued that the reintroduction of facemasks in hospitals, emergency rooms and health centres is “an effective, common sense rule, supported by scientific evidence and well received by the general public.”
“After the pandemic we suffered through, we have learned and we are not resigned to the pre-pandemic figures. From this Ministry, we will continue working to minimise the risks and homogenise health protection,” she added.
For the moment, the safety measure will be confined to health care settings and people will not have to wear masks in pharmacies or nursing homes, as they did during the pandemic.
Following the latest social gatherings around New Year’s Eve and the Three Kings celebrations, both Covid and flu cases are expected to shoot up again in the coming days, and experts believe Spain won’t reach the peak of this latest epidemic until the third week in January.
Image: Freepik
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