Read news from:
Austria
SHARE
COPY LINK

BORDERS

Spain hopes France will keep border open despite Catalonia’s surge in Covid-19 cases

Spain’s Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto believes a resurgence in coronavirus cases in Catalonia shouldn't prompt the closure of its border with France.

Published: 22 July 2020 15:50 CEST
Spain hopes France will keep border open despite Catalonia's surge in Covid-19 cases
Photo: AFP

Maroto said on Wednesday that a rise in coronavirus cases in Catalonia was coming under control, Reuters reported.

Despite new curbs being imposed on hundreds of thousands of residents in the region the minister hoped there would be no need for France to close the border. 

French Prime Minister Jean Castex on Sunday did not rule out closing the border prompting concern in Spain where the epidemic has devastated the usual thriving tourism industry.

Tourism accounts for about 12% of Spain’s economic output.

“With the latest data we have in Aragon and Catalonia we are a bit more optimistic. Catalonia has already reduced the number of infections over the last three days,” Maroto told an event organised by Europa Press news agency. 

“Let’s hope that with this better data we don’t have to close a border that for us is very important for mobility with our European partners.” 

The French are particularly alarmed at clusters popping up in Catalonia.

READ ALSO: Spain's Covid-19 infection rate triples in just over two weeks

“We are monitoring this very closely, here in particular, because it is a real issue that we also need to discuss with the Spanish authorities,” French PM Castex said in response to a question about the possible closure of borders.

The border was reopened on June 21 after three months of strict confinement on the Spanish side to contain the pandemic.

Authorities in Barcelona have cut the number of people allowed onto the city’s beaches and urged four million residents to stay at home. Despite the advice crowds flocked to beach resorts at the weekend. 

Health Minister Salvador Illa told parliament there are 224 active coronavirus clusters in Spain, mostly linked to parties, family events and fruit harvesting. 

He said the situation in Catalonia and Aragon was worrying: “We shouldn’t be afraid of the virus but we also shouldn’t lose respect for it,” Illa told lawmakers.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Spain is the only EU country (apart from Luxembourg) where the number of coronavirus cases is on the up, a rise of 103 percent in its cumulative infection incidence over a 14-day period. 

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

HEALTH

‘Tripledemic’ in Spain: Which regions have made masks mandatory in hospitals?

With Covid, flu and bronchitis cases overwhelming hospital staff, Spain's health ministry is considering bringing back compulsory mask usage in medical facilities. However, some regions have already decided to make them mandatory.

Published: 8 January 2024 17:24 CET
'Tripledemic' in Spain: Which regions have made masks mandatory in hospitals?

It’s all felt a bit déjà vu in Spain in recent days. Respiratory infections on the up, worries about hospitals being overwhelmed, regional governments clashing with central government about the best way to approach things, and, of course, the return of face masks.

The Health Ministry, headed by Mónica García, called an extraordinary meeting of Spain’s Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) in order to “unify the criteria” against the surge in respiratory illnesses over the winter, namely the ‘tripledemic’ threat of influenza, Covid-19 and bronchiolitis as it’s been dubbed in the Spanish and international press.

Although Spain’s Ministry of Health and regional governments failed to come to a nationwide agreement with regards to the mandatory use of masks in hospitals, health centres and pharmacies throughout the country, some regions have already made mascarillas mandatory.

Self-assessed health leave

The government is also considering the possibility of allowing three-day leave for people who have a mild illness that doesn’t require medical attention in order to ease pressure on the health system.

“We are studying self-justifying mild illnesses during the first three days,” García said in an interview with Onda Cero, indicating that this self-assessment process, referred to as ‘autobaja‘ in Spanish, would be for people that “do not need to go to the doctor.”

But what about masks? With no agreement between the government and regions yet, where do you need to wear one?

Mandatory masks

Valencia

The Valencian Ministry of Health has made masks mandatory in all health centres for symptomatic people when they are in shared spaces, including waiting rooms and consultations.

Catalonia

Masks are also mandatory in all health centres in Catalonia, though, as of Monday afternoon, it has not yet been confirmed if pharmacies are included.

Murcia

Murcia too has made face masks mandatory in hospitals and health centres and recommended their use in “in any space, when there are symptoms of respiratory disease.”

Health authorities in the southern region have been offering free masks since December 30th in hospitals.

Canary Islands

The mask mandate will enter into force tomorrow, Tuesday 9th, although like in Murcia their use has been recommended since December.

Aragón

In Aragón, masks are mandatory for all healthcare workers and personnel who work in health centres and hospitals, including social health centres. The mandate has also been extended to patients, but only those in waiting rooms.

Asturias

Face masks will be mandatory in Asturias from Tuesday 9th, in both hospitals and pharmacies.

Non-mandatory but recommended

The rest of the Spanish regions have yet to make masks mandatory in hospitals and health centres, but recommend their use, including:

Balearic Islands

The Balearic Government does however recommend using a mask if you have symptoms, as well as frequent hand washing and covering your mouth when sneezing.

Castilla and León

The Ministry of Health in Castilla y León has recommended masks for people who suspect that they may be ill or have a respiratory infection.

Basque Country

The Basque Department of Health also recommends masks for people with symptoms of respiratory illness, but has not made them obligatory.

Andalusia

The Andalusian Health Service (SAS) recommends masks for people with symptoms, previous health problems, when with vulnerable people or at hospitals or health centres, but has so far ruled out making them mandatory.

Madrid

The Madrid regional government has taken the most nakedly political approach and accused the Ministry of Health of a “lack of planning” and ruled out mask mandates.

Castilla-La Mancha

In Castilla La Mancha, mask use is recommended but not obligatory.

Cantabria

Similarly, in Cantabria masks are not mandatory but recommended.

Navarra

Navarra’s Ministry of Health claims that mask mandates in hospitals and health centres would require “a regulatory adjustment” that would have to be analysed “in depth.”

Masks are therefore recommended but not mandatory for now.

Galicia

In Galicia, masks are recommended in hospitals and other health centres but not mandatory.

La Rioja

Maks in hospitals are only recommended, not obligatory.

Extremadura 

Masks are recommended but not mandatory.

SHOW COMMENTS