- Health officials once again report full hospitals and patients in hallways
- Family doctors are also calling for mask-wearing to be made compulsory in hospitals.
The coronavirus and influenza outbreak in Spain has become so serious that many holiday regions are reintroducing mandatory mask-wearing in certain cases.
Health officials across the country are reporting that hospitals and health centers are saturated, with patients once again lying in hallways or waiting hours for treatment.
Family doctors are also calling for masks to be made compulsory in health centers and hospitals across Spain, saying the winter surge in coronavirus and influenza cases is spiraling out of control.
The Spanish government has made no announcement about reinstating the mask requirement, but regions such as Valencia, home to tourist hotspots Benidorm and Alicante, have already reimposed their own rules.
The Valencian Health Authority has today made the wearing of masks compulsory in health centers due to the increase in respiratory infections.
This precaution is considered appropriate given the community incidence in Valencia (1,501 per 100,000 inhabitants).
The aim is to stop the spread of infection and protect vulnerable people.
The ministry also sent a message that health centers will begin administering influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations without an appointment from next Monday.
From today, it will be compulsory to wear a mask when entering health centers and hospitals throughout Valencia.
The Ministry of Health established mask protocols following a surge in influenza cases and respiratory infections in recent weeks.
In the last weekly report on influenza, COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses in 2023, the global incidence of acute respiratory infections in primary care was 908.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. , last week there were 806 people.And generally, there are 1,501 infections per 100,000 residents at all levels of care.
The Ministry of Health has sent a directive from the Directorate General of Public Health to the health departments of the three states, making it compulsory to wear masks in health centers and social health centers as a preventive measure in preparation for the resurgence of respiratory virus infections.
The city of Valencia said its health services were on the verge of collapse due to a post-Christmas surge in coronavirus and influenza cases, and patients had to be sent to hospitals to cope.
This wave is expected to peak in the third week of January.
Valencia region has hospitals with 96% occupancy, and GPs are seeing 15 unscheduled patients a day due to these infections, with 7 out of 10 having influenza A. .
The Spanish Association of Family Physicians is calling for the wearing of masks to be made compulsory in hospitals and medical centers across Spain to prevent the spread of influenza and the new coronavirus.