The Minister for Health, Salvador Illa, in a press conference this afternoon spoke about the use of masks as on Monday 13th April when some sectors can return to work. The minister recommended that workers wear masks while using public transport and that this coming Monday masks will be available at bus stations and train stations around the country. This evening, at some time, I expect the ministry of Health to publish their guidelines for worker returning to the workplace on Monday but personally I think they will follow the guidelines already laid down by the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control)

• The use of medical face masks by healthcare workers must be given priority over the use in the community.
• The use of face masks in public may serve as a means of source control to reduce the spread of the infection in the community by minimising the excretion of respiratory droplets from infected individuals who have not yet developed symptoms or who remain asymptomatic. It is not known how much the use of masks in the community can contribute to a decrease in transmission in addition to the other countermeasures.
• The use of face masks in the community could be considered, especially when visiting busy, closed spaces, such as grocery stores, shopping centres, or when using public transport, etc.
• The use of non-medical face masks made of various textiles could be considered, especially if – due to supply problems – medical face masks must be prioritised for use as personal protective equipment by healthcare workers.
• This is based on limited indirect evidence supporting the use of non-medical face masks as a means of source control.
• The use of face masks in the community should be considered only as a complementary measure and not as a replacement for established preventive measures, for example physical distancing, respiratory etiquette, meticulous hand hygiene and avoiding touching the face, nose, eyes and mouth.
• Appropriate use of face masks is key for the effectiveness of the measure and can be improved through education campaigns.
• Recommendations on the use of face masks in the community should carefully take into account evidence gaps, the supply situation, and potential negative side effects.

There has been a total of 4,576 new cases declared today and the total confirmed cases is now at 157,022. The number of patients in intensive care is was not published today by the ministry for health as they continue consolidating figures for Madrid, Galicia, Castilla y Leon and Castilla la Mancha. The number of deaths has now reached 15,238. The number of people who have recovered is 55,668.

Meanwhile in Andalusia there are 9,510 confirmed cases of which 4,715 have needed hospitalisation and 582 have needed intensive care. As of 21.00 yesterday there are 1,753 patients confirmed with Covid-19 in hospital and 389 of those are in intensive care. There have been 691 deaths (Malaga 154, Jaen 92, Granada 148, Cordoba 48, Cadiz 49, Seville 150, Almeria 29, Huelva 21). In Seville there are 1,887 cases and 900 of those required hospitalization with 124 in intensive care. There have been 150 deaths while 200 have been cured.

In Andalusia there have been a total of 691 deaths so far. A total 1,437 patients have now been declared cured.

In Huelva there are 310 cases, this being an increase of 2 new cases today, 165 have been hospitalized with 26 in intensive care and 21 deaths. The good news is 48 have now been declared cured.