End of masks in health centers and pharmacies

 

 

 

The Council of Ministers of Spain has declared the end of the health emergency due to Covid-19, after more than 1000 days since its beginning. The Minister of Health, José Manuel Miñones, announced that all extraordinary health measures have been lifted. The measures that citizens will notice most are the elimination of the obligation to wear a mask in pharmacies and health centers.

 

This decision is based on the decrease in deaths and hospitalizations due to the virus; In addition, variables such as the lower virulence of the omicron variant, the high vaccination rate and the natural immunity of the population have been taken into account. Although it will no longer be mandatory, the use of masks is strongly recommended in some contexts, such as intensive care units and care for vulnerable patients.

 

Although according to the Center for the Coordination of Health Alerts and Emergencies the epidemic has been controlled and no longer represents a health crisis in Spain, it is recommended to maintain the use of the mask in addition to certain additional precautions in nursing homes, certain areas of health centers such as hospital emergencies and both for professionals who care for symptomatic cases and for patients affected by the virus themselves when they are in public spaces.