The Spanish Government convened yesterday morning the extraordinary and urgent Interterritorial Commission, bringing together the regional health authorities electronically. In fact, respiratory infections have caused many health facilities to become saturated and some communities to have taken the mask independently last week in health facilities. The standard is in force in countries such as Catalonia, Murcia, Valencia and Aragon. Once the community commission was convened, the Minister of Health, Mónica García, intended to generalize the decision, but did not receive sufficient support.

The Basque Government and the Government of Navarra were against the compulsory wearing of the mask at the meeting on Monday, together with other communities. The Government pointed out that it does not share "either in form or in content" and that, like the Government of Navarra, it preferred to apply it only as a recommendation. The Basque Government Health Advisor, Gotzone Sagardui, went further and denounced the lack of details and technical reports to drive the decision.

Legally shielded

The conflict of competences is also involved, as it is the responsibility of the communities to manage their health system. But the Spanish Ministry of Health, within the framework of the National Health System, will prepare the generalized decree in application of Law 65 of Cohesion and Community Quality. Therefore, all agents will be required to use the mask in health centres.

Minister García, in the SER chain, has announced that he has opened the deadline until Wednesday for communities to submit their proposals to the decree, and then it will enter into force.

Voluntary leave

The Ministry of Health, without consulting its doctor, has raised the possibility of three days of low staff, mainly to alleviate the workload in Primary Care. In the aforementioned dialogue, he defended the approach: "We're asking citizens if they have a mild flu stay home, don't go to the doctor. If they are working, they should go to the health center to request a leave. It doesn't make any sense."

The measure is not defined, but it may come into force in the coming days, perhaps along with the Wednesday decree.