Wearing masks becomes compulsory in Spain’s Valencia region: Starting today, people will be required to wear face coverings as coronavirus and influenza cases soar.

January 5, 2024

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This Friday, the obligation to wear masks in hospitals and health centers in the Valencia region was reinstated.

The decision was taken by the local Ministry of Health following an increase in influenza cases as well as respiratory infections.

The previous mask mandate, introduced during the coronavirus pandemic, was lifted by the central government in July last year after being in place for more than three years.

Between December 25th and 31st, According to the ministry, the number of influenza infections in the Valencia region has quadrupled from 142 to 551 per 100,000 inhabitants in the previous week (December 18-24).

Infections with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) also increased, with the number of infected people per 100,000 population increasing from 192.8 to 258.2.

In fact, the coronavirus infection rate decreased slightly from 247.3 to 222.2 per 100,000 people.

The Ministry of Health has stated that it is compulsory to wear a mask in the following cases, which by all accounts covers the majority of hospitals and health center areas:

– There are people with symptoms in the shared space.

– Specialists who treat symptomatic cases.

– Hospital and primary care emergencies.

●Places where patients and their families gather, such as waiting rooms.

– In other situations aimed at protecting generally vulnerable populations, health department managers support based on their own protocols and Preventive Medicine Services recommendations, and in additional areas Use may be required.

-People who work in ICUs and treat vulnerable patients.

The national family doctors’ association on Thursday called for the reintroduction of mask-wearing amid rising numbers of infections and concerns that the numbers will rise after the Three Kings holiday and next week’s reopening of schools.

Starting this Monday, all health centers in the Valencian community will also offer a “walk-in” service to receive influenza and COVID-19 shots without prior appointment.

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