The Minister of Public Health, José Miñones, has announced that the obligation to wear a mask has to be discussed before the end of June.

He said this at a meeting between regional health ministers (Consejo Interterritorial del Sistema Nacional de Salud or CISNS) Where such a decision would be adopted by each regional government; i.e., the Junta de Andalucía, for example.

At present, masks still have to be worn in hospitals, medical centres, doctors’ surgeries and pharmacies, for example.

He added that it would also have to be decided whether to bring about the end of this obligatory use slowly by stages or right away. He considers that Spain is very close to mask use being only recommended rather than obligatory.

Asked whether the booster for Covid-19 is going to Hipra, (a Spanish-made vaccine) José Miñones replied that starting in October both people over 80 and health workers would receive Hipra but after that it will depend on what they have in stock.

Editorial comment: most people, even in their 60s, don’t bother with flu jabs, let alone getting a booster for Covid.

(News: Spain)