Spain’s holiday region reintroduces Covid mask rules after surge in case numbers

Spain’s holiday region reintroduces Covid mask rules after surge in case numbers

The Covid and flu epidemic in Spain is getting so bad that many holiday regions are re-introducing the mask requirement under certain circumstances.

Health authorities across the country are currently reporting that hospitals and health centers are being overwhelmed, with patients again lying in corridors or waiting hours for treatment.

GPs are also calling for the mandatory use of masks in health centers and hospitals across Spain, saying the winter wave of Covid and flu is getting out of control.

The Spanish government has yet to make an announcement about the return of the requirement to wear face masks, but regions such as Valencia – home to tourist hotspots Benidorm and Alicante – are already reintroducing their own rules.

The Valencian health department has today introduced the mandatory use of masks in health centers due to the increase in respiratory infections.

This preventive measure is considered relevant given the prevalence in the Valencian community, with a rate of 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Holidaymakers wear face masks in Benidorm, Spain in June 2021. The Valencian health department today introduced the mandatory use of masks in health centers in places like Benidorm due to the increase in respiratory infections

The goal is to stop infections and protect people at risk.

The ministry is also spreading the message that health centers will vaccinate against flu and Covid-19 without an appointment starting this coming Monday.

In the Valencia region, masks must be worn in the following situations:

  • Symptomatic people in common areas
  • Professionals treating symptomatic cases
  • People who work in intensive care and in wards with vulnerable patients
  • For emergencies in hospital or primary care
  • In places where patients and families are concentrated (primary care waiting rooms, hospital office hours, etc.)

From today, wearing a mask is mandatory when entering health centers and hospitals throughout the Valencian community, which includes Benidorm.

Due to the increase in flu cases and respiratory infections in recent weeks, the Ministry of Health has established the protocol to be followed regarding the use of the mask.

The latest weekly report on influenza, Covid-19 and other respiratory viruses in 2023 showed a global rate of acute respiratory infections in primary care of 908.6 cases per 100,000 population, while this figure was 806 in the previous week; and in general at all levels of care: 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants

The Ministry of Health has sent an instruction from the General Directorate of Public Health to the health departments of the three provinces that stipulates the mandatory use of masks in health and social centers as a preventive measure in light of the resurgence of respiratory infections. .

Valencia says health services are on the brink of collapse due to the increase in Covid and flu cases after Christmas and are having to send patients to hospitals to deal with them.

The wave is expected to peak in the third week of January.

In the province of Valencia, there are hospitals with a capacity of 96% and GPs treat 15 patients a day who are not on schedule due to these infections, with influenza A occurring in seven out of ten cases.

The Spanish Association of General Practitioners is calling for mandatory masks in hospitals and medical centers across Spain to stop the spread of flu and Covid.

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