Ministry of Health and regional governments agree to raise sensitivity of coronavirus early detection system

To that end, the Ministry of Health and the regional governments have agreed to broaden the case definition to new risk areas, in line with an agreement also reached at a European level.

Those risk areas are: China as a whole (not only Hubei province), South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran and four regions of northern Italy: Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna. "Anyone showing symptoms and who has been in any of these risk areas within the last 14 days should be considered as a possible case and should therefore be tested and undergo the corresponding procedures", stressed the minister.

Furthermore, Salvador Illa said that an agreement was reached with the regional governments "to test patients with serious respiratory symptomatology in whom other possible causes have been ruled out".

Salvador Illa stressed that "prevention is our main goal and that's why we've agreed to increase efforts to strengthen early detection".

Also in terms of strengthening the identification of possible cases, the minister said that an agreement was reached on Tuesday morning with the Ministry of Public Works, AENA (the Spanish airports authority) and Puertos del Estado (the Spanish ports authority) to increase the information provided to passengers at ports and airports. Information leaflets about basic prevention measures and recommendations will also be prepared for distribution on board aircraft landing in Spain, especially those coming from areas at risk.

Salvador Illa highlighted the fact that the Government of Spain and the regional governments have updated the protocols to deal with any possible scenario that might arise in Spain, and underlined the commitment from healthcare professionals and the strength of the Spanish National Health System. He also repeated his praise for the willingness to maintain coordination and unity of action. "We should be proud and satisfied to have such a cohesive healthcare system", he said.

The minister concluded by stressing that "we will continue to constantly monitor the situation every day so we can adopt any additional measures that may become necessary, guided by one fundamental principle: guaranteeing public health protection".

Non official translation