Ministry of Health to bring in mandatory use of masks in health settings

The Ministry of Health will enforce the mandatory use of masks in hospitals and health centres following an inconclusive meeting with regional health chiefs where no agreement was met after a steep rise in the number of respiratory infections recorded over the recent weeks.

Some autonomous communities have already implemented this measure, while others said they preferred to keep it as a recommendation.

Catalonia, Valencia, the Canary Islands, and Murcia have announced the mandatory use of masks in health settings, while Madrid will maintain the rule as guidance, rather than mandatory until the introduction of national legislation.