Department of Health recommends the use of masks in healthcare centres

The Ministry of Health has advised health departments in the Valencian Community to recommend wearing masks in health and social care centres. This is a precaution against the rise of respiratory virus infections, which reached 905 cases per 100,000 people in the first week of 2025.

Although the number of respiratory infection cases is lower than last year, which had 1,318 cases per 100,000 people, it is still important to recommend wearing masks in healthcare and social care settings. This applies in these situations: when symptomatic people are in shared spaces, when professionals are caring for symptomatic patients, and for everyone in vulnerable areas like chemotherapy rooms, transplant units, intensive care units, and emergency departments.

The instructions also say that, based on the center’s features and capabilities, there will be internal rules for controlling the spread of respiratory viruses, using masks, and ongoing care. These will follow the guidelines from the Preventive Medicine Service.

The Ministry of Health has given all health departments a plan to manage the rise in cases of Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI). This plan includes strategies to ensure ongoing healthcare during seasonal outbreaks of respiratory viruses. It covers public health advice and measures for organising and operating both primary and hospital care.

The main goal of this plan is to create suggestions and steps related to risk situations based on spread data and the abilities of healthcare centres in the Valencian Health System.

Advice for everyone.

The Contingency Plan states that getting vaccinated for influenza and/or ARI is still very important for preventing ARI. The Ministry of Health reminds everyone that health centres have been offering flu and COVID-19 vaccinations without appointments since November 4th, to encourage more people to get vaccinated.

Since the vaccination program began, the Ministry of Health has given out a total of 1,730,548 doses of flu and COVID vaccines.

Public Health has shared recommendations for everyone to help prevent acute respiratory infections. You can find these tips on the Ministry of Health’s website and social media. Some key suggestions include washing your hands well with soap and water or using hand sanitiser, wearing a mask for those who are most vulnerable, and for anyone showing respiratory symptoms, even if they haven’t been tested positive.

If you have any symptoms, stay away from busy places and avoid socialising where you can’t wear a mask. Also, clean surfaces that people touch often, like door and window knobs, with soap and water or disinfectant.

If you have trouble breathing, a constant high fever, or are in a high-risk group, it is best to listen to healthcare experts and not take antibiotics on your own.