Health authorities recommend the use of masks in health centres due to the increase in respiratory infections

• Although the number of cases is lower than in the previous year, with a current rate of 905 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, this preventive measure is considered pertinent in view of the incidence in the Valencian Community.
• The goal is to stop infections and protect vulnerable people.
• The Ministry reminds that health centres have been vaccinating against the flu and COVID since November 4 without the need for an appointment, with a total of 1,730,548 vaccines already administered

The Department of Health has sent to the health departments of the Valencian Community an instruction from the General Directorate of Public Health that establishes the recommendation of the use of masks in health and social care centres as a preventive measure against the increase in respiratory virus infection with a rate of 905 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in epidemiological week 1 of 2025.

In this regard, despite being below the rate of the previous year, which stood at 1,318 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the same week, given the incidence of respiratory infections in the Valencian Community, it is considered pertinent to establish the recommendation of the use of masks in health and social care centres in the following situations: symptomatic people when they are in shared spaces; professionals who care for symptomatic cases; all people, both health personnel and patients and companions, in vulnerable areas such as chemotherapy treatment rooms, transplant units, intensive care units and the like; and in hospital and primary care emergencies.

The instruction also adds that, depending on the characteristics and capacity of the centre, internal circuits for controlling the
transmission of respiratory viruses, the use of masks and measures for the continuity of care will be applied, based on the criteria of the Preventive Medicine Service.

In addition, the Ministry of Health has sent all health departments the Contingency Plan for increases in the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), in which they define a series of strategies to ensure the continuity of health care during seasonal epidemics of respiratory viruses, including Public Health recommendations, as well as organisational and operational measures at the level of Primary and Hospital Care.

The main objective of this plan is to define recommendations and actions associated with risk scenarios established based on
transmissibility data and the characteristics and operational capacities of the health centres of the Valencian Health System.

Recommendations for the general population

The Contingency Plan also establishes that vaccination against influenza and/or ARIs continues to be “a cornerstone” for the prevention of ARIs. In this regard, the Ministry of Health reminds that health centres have been vaccinating against influenza and COVID-19 since 4 November without the need for an appointment, in order to promote the immunisation of the population.

In fact, since the start of the vaccination campaign launched by the Ministry of Health, a total of 1,730,548 doses of the flu and COVID vaccines have been administered.

In this regard, Public Health has made a series of recommendations aimed at the general population for the prevention of acute respiratory infections, which can be consulted through the website of the Ministry of Health and on social networks, among which are maintaining good hand hygiene, with soap and water or using hydroalcoholic gel, using a mask for the most vulnerable people and for all those people with any respiratory symptoms, even if there is no positive confirmatory test.

Likewise, if you have any symptoms, you should avoid crowded places and social contacts where you cannot wear a mask, as well as clean frequently touched surfaces (e.g. door and window handles) with soap and water or disinfectant products.

Likewise, if you have any difficulty breathing or a persistent high fever, or if you belong to a risk group, it is recommended to follow the instructions of professionals and avoid self-medication with antibiotics.