Andalusia maintains the mask recommendation

The Ministry of Health, Presidency and Emergencies has published this Thursday in an extraordinary Official Gazette of the Junta de Andalucía (BOJA) a new order on recommendations for the use of masks in hospitals and residences in Andalusia in force from 00:00 this Friday until 00:00 on May 18, 2026, “end date of the twentieth epidemiological week of the year 2026, without prejudice to the fact that within that period a new order may be issued leaving without this effect, in accordance with the evolution of the situation”. This Friday, the extension period given by the Board weeks ago expired.

This appears in the text consulted by Europa Press, which states that the use of masks will be recommended for both professionals and patients and users of health and social care centers in the event that the General Directorate of Public Health and Pharmaceutical Regulation “declare that Andalusia goes from the basal situation level to the low-level epidemic level.” Likewise, when the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections in Primary Care of the health district in which the center is located has exceeded the value of the baseline incidence rate of acute respiratory infections by two.

On the other hand, it will be mandatory in health centers in the Andalusian Health Service (SAS) when Phase II (moderate increase) or Phase III (sustained increase) of the High Frequency Plan 2025-2026 is repeatedly reached, at least three days in the last seven, and the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections in Primary Care of the district in which the center is located has exceeded the value of the baseline incidence rate of acute respiratory infections by two.

It will also be mandatory in private centers when levels equivalent to Phases II and III of the SAS High Frequency Plan are repeatedly reached, at least three days in the last seven, and the incidence rate of acute respiratory infections in primary care of the district in which the center is located has exceeded the value of the baseline incidence rate of acute respiratory infections by two.

Finally, in health and social health centers in the presence of outbreaks of acute respiratory infections when the attack rate in users (proportion of sick residents out of total residents) exceeds 30%. According to official data, as of January 28, 2026, the flu incidence rate in Andalusia had dropped almost twelve points in one week and stood at 14.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, which was below the epidemic threshold (19 cases), although “the epidemic is not considered over until two consecutive weeks have accumulated below that threshold.”

By province, Almería went from 19.6 cases to 13.1; Cádiz, from 34 to 18.4; Córdoba, from 31.4 to 11.9; Granada, from 25.8 to 11.8; Huelva, from 32.5 to 22; Jaén, from 19.5 to 9; Málaga, from 21.5 to 13.4 and Seville, from 36.9 to 22.6, according to the details offered by the Board to questions from Europa Press.

Last week the rate of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) reached 330.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitantsbelow the 355.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants the previous week. By province, Almería has gone from 328.3 to 335.2; Cádiz, from 500.4 to 478.9; Córdoba, from 333.7 to 284.6; Granada, from 301.9 to 298.1; Huelva, from 321.6 to 306.3; Jaén, from 396.6 to 376.1; Malaga, from 260.3 to 229.7 and Seville, from 383.9 to 344.8.

Regarding vaccines, they are 1,925,236 Andalusians immunized against the flu, above the historical record; 775,558 against covid and 45,639 babies have been immunized against the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the main cause of bronchiolitis. This means that 94.8% of children under six months of age are already protected.

By province, in Almería, 4,731 children born since April 1 have been immunized against RSV, which represents a coverage of 94.6%; in Cádiz, 5,585 (95.5%); in Córdoba, 3,905 (95.8%); in Granada, 4,892 (94.8%); in Huelva, 2,616 (96.3%); in Jaén, 3,007 (96.8%); in Malaga, 8,035 (92.1%) and in Seville, 10,580 (95.9%).

The flu vaccination campaign has protected 155,283 people in Almería; 242,999 in Cádiz; 202,239 in Córdoba; 238,018 in Granada; 106,361 in Huelva; 178,702 in Jaén; 348,125 in Malaga and 452,992 in Seville. Finally, 54,861 people in Almería have been vaccinated against covid; 94,312 in Cádiz; 76,816 in Córdoba; 94,724 in Granada; 42,855 in Huelva; 62,560 in Jaén; 139,528 in Malaga and 209,902 in Seville.