Spain makes masks mandatory in hospitals after spike in covid and flu cases

Spain’s hospitals have come under immense pressure in recent weeks following a spike in cases of flu, covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses.

People wearing face masks as a precaution wait for appointments inside a hospital in Barcelona (Emilio Morenatti/AP)

Face masks will be mandatory in hospitals and healthcare centres in Spain from Wednesday after a surge in respiratory illnesses, the Health Ministry said.

The new leftist minority coalition government is imposing the measure despite opposition from most of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions.