04.12.2025 09:17
The Spanish Ministry of Health has approved a protocol that includes measures such as remote work, masks, vaccinations, and ventilation in response to the recent significant increase in flu cases. In the country, preparations are being made for four different risk scenarios: "low," "medium," "high," and "very high," and the use of masks may soon become mandatory. Meanwhile, the local government in the capital, Madrid, announced that vaccinations are being administered without appointments in hospitals.
The Ministry of Health in Spain and the health departments of the 17 autonomous government regions in the country have approved a protocol that includes measures such as remote work, masks, vaccinations, and ventilation in response to the increasing flu outbreak.
Health Minister Monica Garcia stated regarding the document approved under the name "Protocol for the Control of Acute Respiratory Infections" in a statement made on the social media account of the US-based company X, "We have approved a joint protocol with all autonomous regions to combat flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory infections. Working from home and wearing masks in healthcare facilities can save lives. We said it was necessary and possible, and we succeeded."
MEASURES WILL BE INCREASED ACCORDING TO 4 RISK SCENARIOS
The protocol, which has announced the measures of remote work, mask-wearing, vaccination, and ventilation as recommendations for now, emphasized that measures would be increased and could become mandatory according to four risk scenarios classified as "low," "medium," "high," and "very high." The protocol noted that data from the Acute Respiratory Infections Surveillance System, Daily Mortality Monitoring System, and Vaccination Information System would be continuously monitored, and measures could be increased in connection with the occupancy rates in hospitals and intensive care units.
WEARING MASKS MAY BECOME MANDATORY
It was indicated that if the flu outbreak reaches a "very high risk" level, the mask-wearing practice could become mandatory, similar to the COVID-19 outbreak period. In Spain, especially in hospitals and nursing homes, there is a call for careful use of masks according to the current situation of the flu outbreak. Meanwhile, autonomous regional governments have launched campaigns for the public to receive free flu vaccinations.
APPOINTMENT-FREE VACCINATION PERIOD HAS BEGUN
In the capital Madrid, where flu cases are seen in 112 out of every 100,000 people on average, the local government announced that vaccinations are being administered without appointments in hospitals. According to data from the Carlos III Health Institute, flu cases that have turned into an epidemic in Spain are three times higher than the same period last year. Experts point to the early and rapid spread of a new flu variant called "Subclade K" as the reason for the increase in cases, particularly affecting children aged 1-4 years.