Here’s what it looks like in the rest of Europe: Spain is reintroducing mask requirements

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Although Corona is not in the news much these days, the virus continues to spread. In addition, there are many other respiratory diseases that put pressure on the healthcare system in many countries.

“Even if Covid-19 is no longer a public health emergency, the virus will continue to circulate, mutate and kill,” World Health Organization health director Tedros Ghebreyesus warned. In December last year, the number of Covid-related intensive care patients increased by 62 percent compared to November. The data comes from 50 countries, mainly in Europe and America.

Spain has already drawn the first conclusions. Since Wednesday, the mask requirement has been in force again in all health institutions. State television channel RTVE reported this on Monday evening, citing the Ministry of Health.

Previously, Health Minister Mónica García had failed to convince all regions of the need to introduce the mask requirement on their own initiative. The minister justified the temporary measure with the protection of vulnerable parts of the population, such as small children and the elderly, but also health workers. In some parts of the country, hospital emergency departments are under severe pressure due to the high volume of patients.

At the end of 2023, the incidence of respiratory diseases in Italy was approximately 17.5 per 1,000 inhabitants. According to the Italian Health Institute, the number includes both corona and flu infections. This is a new record level and exceeds the corresponding periods of the pandemic. Italian health experts explain the increase with a low vaccination rate and the fact that face masks are hardly worn anymore.

However, Italy is not considering a face mask requirement, as national media report. However, some healthcare institutions have introduced the obligation on their own initiative.

The healthcare system in Portugal is also under pressure. The Ministry of Health stated that in the last week of 2023, about 17 percent of intensive care patients were linked to influenza infections. Manuel Pizarro Castro, Portugal’s health minister, said that “the evolution of this seasonal flu will be monitored very closely.”

Recommendations were also made for wearing a face mask. “These are for people who, if they are sick, need to follow something that I hope we have all learned from the pandemic. But sometimes I see that some people have already forgotten.” He further said that sick people have “a duty” to wear a mask, wash their hands and keep their distance.

Greece also recommends wearing a mask. The Ministry of Health held a special meeting with scientists who fear a further increase in corona and flu cases.

Accordingly, a mask recommendation was decided for public life and especially healthcare. However, this recommendation is not sufficient for the medical association. He criticized the fact that wearing face masks in health facilities was “forcibly” necessary.

Infection rates are also high in this country. The Federal Office for Public Health (BAG) explains to Blick: “The flu wave was stable during the holidays, but is still increasing overall. Influenza viruses are currently circulating most frequently, followed by Sars-CoV-2 and RSV. The Covid-19 wave is stagnating at a high level.”

There is currently no recommendation or order for the whole of Switzerland to wear a mask. As the BAG explains, individual hospitals, such as the University Hospital of Basel, have already independently introduced a mask requirement.

According to the BAG, it still makes sense for certain people to wear face masks. In particular, valveless FFP masks can be useful “due to their higher filtering effect when used correctly to protect particularly vulnerable people or yourself in areas of increased risk.”

The BAG also recommends that people who are “particularly at risk” get vaccinated during the cold seasons. This could provide protection against a “potentially serious course”.

Source: Blick