Government of Spain abolishes mandatory use of face masks on public transport

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The Minister for Health, Carolina Darias, argued at the press conference following the Council of Ministers that the decision, which will come into force tomorrow 8 February, has been adopted at a time of a clear downward trend in cases of COVID-19, with the favourable proposal of the experts who make up the Alerts, Preparedness and Response Plans Committee and after assessing the report issued last Thursday by the plenary session of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System.

According to this report, the 14-day cumulative incidence in the over-60s group is 50.7 cases per 100,000 population, and beds occupied by COVID patients represent 1.6%, one of the lowest figures for the whole of the pandemic.

The minister pointed out that Spain is an international benchmark in terms of vaccination. It has administered more than 110 million doses of COVID vaccines, while 93% of people over 12 years old have the full course and more than 75% of people over 80 years have the second booster dose.

Carolina Darias explained that masks will continue to be obligatory for socio-health centre employees and visitors to protect the people who live in them. She also indicated that the end of face masks on public transport means continuing to follow a planned roadmap phase by phase until normality is achieved.

The Minister for Health also stressed that the responsible use of masks is advised for people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection and for vulnerable people. It is also recommended in enclosed spaces and at large events, as well as in the family environment and at private meetings or celebrations, depending on the vulnerability of those present.

New State Agency for Public Health

The Minister for Health, Carolina Darias, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

In health matters, the Government has also approved the urgent referral to Parliament of the draft law creating the State Public Health Agency (AESAP), presented by the Minister for Health at the Council of Ministers on 23 August.

Carolina Darias recalled that the measure is the outcome of the government's determination and commitment to generate organisational structures that are operational, agile, autonomous and efficient to face the new health risks and threats that may arise. The experience of the pandemic, the minister said, means that the creation of this agency is a priority to address situations that require anticipation, rapid response and coordination between all national and EU health authorities.

The minister stressed that the agency's objectives are to anticipate, manage, coordinate and analyse the response to potential health crises. Among its functions is the contribution to improving the well-being of citizens with actions that encourage prevention, promotion, knowledge and technical and scientific advice on health problems.

The centre will also address the current context of climate change and its impact on health, new zoonoses and emerging diseases. The agency will also be responsible for public information and communication on health issues of interest to the public.

Darias recalled that the Public Health Strategy agreed in June 2022, the Public Health Surveillance Network, which will soon go out for public consultation, and the State Public Health Agency approved today, are the three pillars of the integrated health system designed by the executive.

"This Government continues to take firm steps to be better prepared, to be more protected and to improve the management of health emergencies safely, in advance and always hand in hand with scientific excellence, while strengthening the country's health," concluded Darias.

The minister also informed that Spain subscribes to the joint purchase of vaccines from the pharmaceutical company Bavarian Nordic to have more doses for our strategic reserve.

Assistance for the management of European funds

The Government Spokesperson and Minister for Territorial Policy, Isabel Rodríguez, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa/Borja Puig de la Bellacasa

The Council of Ministers has agreed to commission technical assistance worth €69 million to boost and improve the involvement of public administrations in the management of European funds coming through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. This assistance will be carried out until 2027 by Tragsatec, the technological subsidiary of the Tragsa Group, which is wholly owned by the public sector.

The Government Spokesperson and Minister for Territorial Policy, Isabel Rodríguez, has assured that the funds are being managed satisfactorily but that, at the same time, the Government is always willing to improve all the mechanisms. "All the means at the disposal of public administrations are too few", he stated.

This new technical assistance is aimed especially at municipalities, provincial administrations and regional governments, which may join on a voluntary basis.

Rodríguez explained that the smaller municipalities and some communities had requested this aid, which will include monitoring the implementation of the projects, compliance with the obligations for their management, data collection and dissemination of good practices, among others.

The spokesperson stressed that the role of all the administrations is fundamental in managing the funds and that, therefore, co-governance has been key. More than 130 sectoral conferences have been held and the regional governments are currently taking part in the preparation of the Addendum to the Recovery Plan, which will be formally sent to the European Commission in the first quarter of this year.

Spain, leader in the deployment of European funds

Isabel Rodríguez recalled that Spain and Portugal were the first EU Member States to have their Recovery Plan approved by the Commission in June 2020. Subsequently, at the end of 2021, Spain was the first to apply for and receive the first disbursement of €10 billion. The second disbursement of €12 billion came in July 2002 and the third will be requested shortly.

"Spain is leading the deployment of European funds; the funds have already arrived; they are already in more than 154,000 companies;192,000 projects are benefiting from them, and the objective is to take advantage of 100%," said Rodríguez.

European Tech Champions Initiative

The Government has authorised €400 million for the European Tech Champions Initiative to support high-tech companies, which also involves Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the European Investment Bank. To date, participants have already altogether committed €3.75 billion.

Isabel Rodríguez explained that this European project aims to solve the financing deficit that exists in emerging and innovative companies, serving to establish and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy in the industrial field and other sectors.

Solidarity with Turkey and Syria

At the start of the press conference following the meeting of the Council of Ministers, the Government Spokesperson, Isabel Rodríguez, referred to the earthquake that claimed thousands of victims in Turkey and Syria yesterday. Rodríguez expressed his solidarity with the two countries and explained that Spain has already begun to provide aid to alleviate the consequences of the disaster and the most urgent needs.

Specifically, two aircraft have been sent with troops from the Military Emergency Unit (UME) and firefighters from various autonomous communities to carry out search and rescue tasks; and the Navy ships Juan Carlos I and Galicia, which were already in that area of the Mediterranean, are also heading to the specific location to provide their crews and medical teams. These vessels may also be used to accommodate those affected.

"It is clear to us that Spain must be there, as always when a tragedy of this kind occurs, giving the best of ourselves and contributing where there is a need," said Rodríguez.

Similarly, she added, material has been sent to Chile, whose southern region has been ravaged in recent days by major forest fires.

Non official translation