Masks in Colombia: Ministry of Health confirms that mandatory use will return

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection reported this Friday that the Colombians they must re-use the mask in a mandatory manner due to the increase in cases of COVID-19 that has been presented in the country.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Health, Carolina Corcho, who assured that the measure also takes into account the confluence that exists in the national territory of conditions such as influenza, covid-19 and other respiratory infections.

According to Corcho, the Ministry of Health convened a technical council in which experts in epidemiology, pulmonology, and other areas participate, to request recommendations regarding the situation in the country.

Along these lines, the minister said that within the measures taken in that council, the mandatory use of the mask was established for people over two years of age in open and closed spaces with crowds.

The rest of the recommendations will be issued through a resolution prepared by the Ministry of Health for the territorial entities and the actors of the health system, as explained by the official, who also stressed that the decisions are also due to the winter season that Colombia is going through.

Precisely, this wave of rains has increased the cases of respiratory infections, leading the country to enter the second peak of diseases of this type in the year, as stated by the authorities in recent days.

Thus, the Ministry of Health reiterated that the mask must also be used in health institutions, nursing homes and means of transportation.

“It is important to note that the Ministry of Health and Social Protection has not changed the recommendations and measures that were previously in place regarding the use of masks,” said the minister.

The measures for the use of masks will be accompanied by increases in vaccination in the country, reported the Ministry of Health.

“In addition, a surgical mask should be used for people who have not been vaccinated and for people who have respiratory symptoms, comorbidities,” he added.

Within the framework of the December season, where there are more crowds and meetings of all kinds in the country, the health portfolio announced that it will also aim to reinforce measures to prevent the spread of covid-19.

In this sense, Minister Corcho reported that the territorial entities and the Benefit Plan Administration Companies (EAPB) will be asked to increase the complete schemes by 10% and the first and second reinforcements by 20%.

In addition, the head of the portfolio announced that they will be asked for a 25% increase in vaccinations for influenza. “We call on Colombian citizens to go to the health points, to communicate with their EPS, to complete their vaccination schedules,” she said.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.