The Andalusian Regional Minister for Health and Consumer Affairs, Catalina García, has insisted on the recommendation of the use of masks in health and social health centres due to the current epidemiological situation. She did so at the extraordinary plenary session of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System, convened telematically by the Minister for Health, Mónica García, with the aim of unifying criteria among the autonomous communities in the face of the respiratory virus peaks. 

She also recommended that vulnerable groups and people with symptoms of respiratory viruses, such as coughing or sneezing, should also use it in places where there are high numbers of people, such as on public transport. The Regional Minister also stressed that on July 13th, Andalusia published an instruction on the use of masks in health and social healthcare centres, in which the use of masks was obligatory in the most vulnerable areas such as the ICU or Oncohematology. It also reflected that each health centre will have the power, through the Preventive Medicine and Occupational Hazards Services, to impose the mandatory use of the mask in the case of the highest incidence in that area of management for both patients and health professionals.

In this regard, she pointed out that the High Frequency Plan has been in place since October, which translates into contingency plans that entail the expansion of material resources and staff in the event of an increase in demand. This plan, according to the Regional Minister, is proving successful in avoiding situations of healthcare tension. The Andalusian Regional Government has highlighted that the incidence rate of Acute Respiratory Infections in Andalusia is 505.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, continuing the upward trend that began six weeks ago. This figure is almost double the national average of 952.9 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

Flu vaccination and COVID-19
In addition, she invited vulnerable groups - the over-60s, people with chronic pathologies, pregnant women, children aged 6 to 59 months, health and social and healthcare workers, among others - to get vaccinated to protect themselves against influenza and COVID-19. In this regard, she recalled that every Thursday, until the end of the 2023-2024 campaign, Andalusians can go without an appointment to the different vaccination points. To date, 1,659,000 people have already been vaccinated against influenza and 1,060,000 people against COVID-19. Finally, the Minister stressed the importance of vulnerable groups renewing their flu and COVID-19 vaccinations each campaign, as each year the doses are adapted to the variants circulating in the region.

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