The Spanish region of Valencia has brought back the mandatory use of masks in health centres due to the rise in respiratory infections. The Mail has more.
The Spanish Government hasn’t made any announcement about the return of obligatory mask wearing but regions such as Valencia – where tourist hotspots Benidorm and Alicante are located – are already imposing their own rules again.
Valencia’s health department has today implemented the mandatory use of masks in health centres due to the rise in respiratory infections.
This preventive measure is considered relevant given the incidence in the Valencian community, with a rate of 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
The objective is to stop infections and protect vulnerable people.
The department is also relaying the message that health centres will vaccinate against flu and COVID-19 starting next Monday without the need for an appointment.
From today, it will be mandatory to wear a mask when entering health centres and hospitals throughout the Valencian community.
The Ministry of Health established the mask protocol due to the spike in flu cases and respiratory infections in recent weeks.
The last weekly report for influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in 2023 marked a global rate of acute respiratory infection in primary care of 908.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, when the previous week the figure was 806; and in general at all levels of care of 1,501 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
The Department of Health has sent the health departments of three provinces an instruction from the General Directorate of Public Health that establishes the mandatory use of masks in health and social health centres as a preventive measure in the face of the resurgence of respiratory virus infection.
Valencia says its health services are at the point of collapse due to the surge in Covid and flu cases after Christmas and is having to send patients to [other] hospitals in order to cope.
The wave is expected to peak in the third week of January.
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