Government considers reintroducing masks in hospitals as flu cases rise
Spain’s Minister of Health, Mónica García, has recommended the use of face masks in hospitals and medical centres as the country faces a sharp increase in flu infections. She confirmed that regional health authorities, including the Canary Islands, are working together on a unified response, which could see masks become mandatory again if the situation continues to worsen.
García expects the new common protocol for respiratory viruses to be approved on Wednesday (3rd December) by the Public Health Commission, following consensus reached during the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System.
According to the latest data from the Carlos III Health Institute, Spain has now passed the epidemic threshold, with 40 flu cases per 100,000 people recorded last week. The Ministry hopes to prevent a repeat of the severe peaks of previous years, when infections rose to around 400 cases per 100,000 people.
The draft protocol is based on the same flexible framework used last year, adapted to regional conditions. It sets out four tiers of risk and three main precautions: encouraging mask use in hospitals and care homes (moving to mandatory in higher-risk scenarios), boosting flu vaccination uptake, and reinforcing hygiene measures.
García stressed that although the rules are flexible, they are not optional: regions must apply the necessary measures based on their current risk level. She highlighted differences between the north and south of Spain, with northern regions currently reporting higher rates of infection.
“We need to act together, urgently, to reduce hospital pressure and protect public health,” she said, adding that prevention is the key to avoiding overcrowded hospitals during winter.
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