Spain's Health Ministry and autonomous communities have agreed on a common surveillance and action plan for winter respiratory infections, including flu, RSV, and coronavirus. The document recommends mask use for people with symptoms and in health centers during epidemics, while promoting telework for mild cases. The plan outlines four risk scenarios with escalating measures.
The Public Health Commission approved the framework document for controlling acute respiratory infections on Wednesday. After failed attempts last winter, the agreement includes mask, hygiene, and telework recommendations without general mandates. The plan relies on near real-time monitoring of flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and coronavirus incidence, following WHO and ECDC guidelines.
It defines four scenarios: interepidemic or basal, low or medium epidemic, high, and very high. Autonomous communities will set thresholds based on their epidemiological history, coordinating with the Health Ministry and Carlos III Health Institute to review indicators such as transmissibility, hospital bed occupancy, emergency consultations, and mortality.
In the basal scenario, preparations include vaccination campaigns, prior coverage assessments, and informational materials on hygiene, masks, and ventilation. For vulnerable residences, 2023 guidelines require symptomatic workers to wear masks continuously and limit visits.
Currently in low or medium level, vaccine access is facilitated, symptomatic individuals are recommended to wear surgical masks—especially near vulnerables—and adopt hygiene measures. In health centers, use is limited to high-risk units; in residences, symptomatic workers must wear them continuously, potentially becoming mandatory.
In high level, it extends to all health centers, promotes self-isolation and telework for symptomatic people, surface cleaning, ventilation, and crowd avoidance for vulnerables. In very high, coordination is reinforced and exceptional measures evaluated.
Flu has entered an early epidemic phase, with 40.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants—above the 37 threshold—and dominance of H3N2 subtype with mutations in clade K, slightly reducing vaccine effectiveness but maintaining protection against severe cases. Peaks are expected by year-end, overlapping Christmas, and several communities have advanced vaccination drives.