After a couple of years of relative normality, we have woken up to a piece of news that takes us straight back to the most intense days of the pandemic, although with a different protagonist. The mask will be mandatory again in all health centers in Catalonia, hospitals, health centers and residences, starting this Wednesday, December 10.
The decision, which has been announced in the press conference after the Consell Executiu by the spokeswoman of the Govern, Sílvia Paneque, responds to the notable advance of the cases of flu in the community. Although the resolution will be signed on Tuesday by the Minister of Health, Olga Paneque, and will officially come into force on Wednesday with its publication, the Generalitat has already called on the population not to wait and start wearing face protection from today.
A preventive measure already spreading in Spain
The experience of COVID-19 demonstrated the effectiveness of this gesture, and the Department of Health now recovers it as a fundamental “preventive option” to contain the circulation of the influenza virus, especially in highly vulnerable environments.
Although to many it may sound like a step backwards, the reality is that Catalonia is not the only one moving in this direction. The increase in the incidence of acute respiratory infections has put several communities on alert. In fact, autonomous regions such as Aragon have already implemented the obligatory use of masks in their health centers, and others such as the Valencian Community are strongly recommending it.
This wave of seasonal infections underlines the importance of vaccination, a factor that the spokeswoman Paneque has not hesitated to recall, insisting that both vaccines and the use of the mask in these areas are key to “help save lives” and protect the most fragile people.
For the moment, the measure is limited to risk areas and no withdrawal period has been specified, remaining in force as long as the epidemiological situation does not improve. It is time to dust off the masks that we had kept and continue to be responsible, at least, when we cross the threshold of the CAP or the hospital.