A series of hospitals in Malaga province have made face masks mandatory amid the ongoing flu epidemic that has struck Spain four weeks early this year.
The ruling was made today by the Hospital Regional Universitario de Malaga and – on Saturday – by the Hospital Clinico Universitario Virgen de la Victoria.
The new rule is extended across associated centres on the Costa del Sol, including General Hospital, Civil Hospital, CARE Jose Estrade, Hospital Maritimo de Torremolinos, Hospital Valle del Guadalhorce in Cartama, Hospital de Alta Resolucion de Benalmadena, and specialist outpatient facilities such as San Jose Obrero in Barbarela.
The face coverings in the affected centres must be worn by all staff, patients, visitors and suppliers in shared spaces and clinical areas.
According to an internal directive issued by the Regional Hospital’s management, the measure has been adopted due to the early start of the flu season and the growing number of acute respiratory infections.
The decision follows guidance from the regional health authorities and forms part of the 2025-26 Health Action Plan.
Mask use is mandatory in areas including outpatient clinics, emergency departments, waiting rooms, hospital wards, corridors and lifts.
The order at Hospital Regional came into force on Monday and will remain in place until January 8, although it may be extended or lifted depending on how the epidemiological situation develops.
Hospital management said the measure is intended to protect both patients and healthcare professionals.
At Hospital Clínico, mandatory mask use has been in effect since last Saturday. Hospital sources said respiratory infections in Málaga have quadrupled over the past 15 days, driven in part by the spread of a new, more contagious strain of flu known as variant K.
Other circulating illnesses include Covid-19, colds and seasonal respiratory viruses.
Health professionals warn that flu and other respiratory infections are having a particularly serious impact on vulnerable patients, including those with heart or lung conditions, chronic respiratory disease and cancer-related illnesses.
Hospitals in Malaga are already recording admissions linked to acute respiratory infections.
Health authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as pressure builds on hospital services ahead of the Christmas period.
It comes after cases during the first week of December doubled nationwide, in what some experts have branded the biggest flu outbreak in 15 years.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
