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BIRTHRATE

How the pandemic has made Spain’s birthrate drop to its lowest in 80 years

The strict lockdown and home confinement which lasted almost 2.5 months last year, has led to Spain’s lowest monthly birthrate since records began.

Published: 11 March 2021 11:14 CET
New parents with baby

Only 23,226 babies were born in December 2020, which is 20.4 percent less than in the same month of 2019.

Despite many predicting a baby boom because of lockdowns, the statistics agency INE has said that this is the lowest figure since 1941 when the birth records began and have blamed the pandemic for this.

The babies born during December 2020, would have been conceived nine months earlier during the home confinement period in March-April 2020, showing that Spaniards did not want to add to or start a family during such as uncertain time.

“Although the number of births has been showing a constant downward trend for several years, the decline has been accentuated nine months after the confinement of the Spanish population during the first state of alarm due to covid-19,” said the National Institute of Statistics (INE).

Spanish women now have an average of 1.23 children, compared with 2.8 in 1975, due to several factors including the lack of financial stability, having children later in life, and people wanting fewer children.  

Spain’s birthrate is now the second-lowest in Europe after Malta and continues to suffer the consequences of the double recession and financial crisis in 2008-2012.

2019 had already been a historic year for falling birthrates at only 360,617 births said the INE, but the first half of 2020 set a new record, seeing only 168,047 births and showing a 4.2 percent decline from the first half of 2019. Full figures for 2020 have not yet been released.

“The numbers coincide with what we’d been expecting and what we’re seeing in other countries,” explains Diego Ramiro, director of the Institute of Economics, Geography and Demographics at the National Research Council (CSIC).

Births in Italy declined by 21.6 percent in December 2020 and dropped by 13 percent in France in January 2021, the lowest level since World War II.

Demographic experts across Europe have predicted a drop in birthrates throughout the continent in 2021, as young people of childbearing age have suffered some of the worst economic blows due to closures and job losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

READ ALSO: New fathers in Spain can now enjoy 16 weeks paternity leave

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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.

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