BARCELONA, Spain, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Spain's Catalonia region reinstated the mandatory use of face masks in hospitals and health and residential care centers on Wednesday. The measure has been approved for an initial period of 15 calendar days.
According to the Catalan health department, the decision was prompted by "a very significant increase in acute respiratory infections" across the northeastern region.
The mandatory use of face masks in hospitals and health centers had not been in place in any part of Spain since July 2023, when the Spanish government lifted the requirement nationwide as the COVID-19 pandemic eased.
Under the latest measure, face masks are mandatory for workers, patients and visitors in hospitals, all healthcare centers, mental health facilities, and residential centers for the elderly or people with disabilities. Hospitalized patients are exempt from wearing masks when they are in private rooms.
The requirement was approved on Tuesday by the Catalan government's Executive Council and took effect on Wednesday following its publication in the Official Gazette.
The incidence of influenza cases is currently higher than at the peak of the past three flu seasons, the Catalan health department said. Hospital admissions have already surpassed the maximum recorded in the 2022-2023 season and are on track to exceed those of the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons as well.
