With this objective, the Ministry and the Autonomous Communities have agreed to extend the case definition to new risk areas, as also agreed at European level.
These risk areas are: the whole country of China (not only the province of Hubei), South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Iran and four regions of northern Italy: Lombardy, Veneto, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna. "People who have symptoms and who in the previous 14 days have been in any of these risk areas should be considered possible cases and therefore the tests should be performed and the corresponding procedures applied," said the minister.
Likewise, Salvador Illa has indicated that it has been agreed with the Autonomous Communities, "that patients with severe respiratory symptoms be analyzed, for which other possible causes have been ruled out."
Illa has emphasized that "our main objective is prevention and for this we have agreed to expand efforts to strengthen early detection."
In addition, along the lines of strengthening the detection of possible cases, the minister has indicated that this morning it has been agreed, with the Ministry of Development, AENA and State Ports, to increase information to travelers in ports and airports. In addition, informative pieces are going to be prepared to spread on airplanes that land in Spain, with basic prevention measures and recommendations, especially in those that come from risk areas.
Salvador Illa recalled that the Government and Autonomous Communities have updated the protocols before the possible scenarios that may occur in our country and has highlighted the commitment of health professionals and the robustness of the National Health System. In addition, he has again confirmed the will to maintain coordination and unity of action: "We must be proud and satisfied to have a cohesive health system."
The minister has closed his speech stressing that "we will continue to monitor the situation on a permanent and daily basis to take whatever additional measures are necessary, guided by a basic principle: guarantee the protection of the population's health".
