Spanish regions reintroduce masks as flu and COVID spike

STORY: Five Spanish regions have reintroduced rules making face masks compulsory in health facilities following a spike in flu and COVID-19 cases over the festive season.

In the last week of December, 953 cases per 100,000 inhabitants were presenting at primary healthcare centers around the country with acute respiratory illness, while hospitalization rates showed a steeper upwards increase than last year.

In some regions, the rate of respiratory infections was more than 1,500 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The region of Valencia is among the hardest hit. There, health chiefs instructed people with symptoms, as well as medical professionals, and family and friends in waiting rooms to wear masks for the foreseeable future.

It also left the door open to the rule being extended to other areas where people with vulnerable health gather.

Catalonia, Aragon and Murcia issued the same instruction while Galicia has recommended mask use.

In Barcelona, some residents had taken it upon themselves to wear masks elsewhere.

"I don't think it's necessary in the open air, but it is for public transport, places where there are a lot of people at the moment, where there are a lot of viruses running around and a lot of people with flu and a lot of old people who suffer. We have to protect ourselves and we have to protect them.”

Spain was among the last European countries to drop requirements to wear face masks following the COVID-19 pandemic. People were told to wear them on public transport until February last year and in health centers and pharmacies until July.