The Minister of Health, Mónica García, has confirmed that she will go to the Congress of Deputies to account for the hantavirus crisis, as demanded by the opposition, with the aim of offering "all explanations" regarding the meetings held and the decisions adopted at both national and international levels.
"We are going to give all the explanations of all the meetings we have had at the international level, at the national level, and why we have made certain decisions," the minister pointed out in an interview with RNE reported by Europa Press.
"I don't see that it's the time to introduce uncertainties"
García considers that "there is a certain interest in spreading a certain fear", which is why he insists that it is a priority to convey messages of calm to the public. "We know that hoaxes are spread in this type of alert," he added.
At the same time, he has made it clear that he does not intend to get involved "in the sterile controversies of the Popular Party" because "now is not the time." "We are going to be focused on what we have to be focused on, which is working and moving forward, not only with healthcare management, but with the logistical management of how we carry out this operation," he added.
"I don't see that this is the time to introduce uncertainties, to introduce fears, to introduce a sterile political debate. I understand that the Popular Party is focused on other things, but we, from the Government and also from the Government of the Canary Islands, I believe we will be focused on ensuring the health of the people who come and also on ensuring the health of the entire population," he continued.
"I believe we can be proud of our country, I believe this is an unprecedented device, of international scope on an international health alert, in which 23 countries are involved, we are coordinating it from Spain, the World Health Organization has trusted Spain for us to carry out this device, an unprecedented device," he assured.
Coordination with the autonomous communities
On this line, he has emphasized that the entire operation is being carried out in coordination with the autonomous communities in the Public Health Alerts and Preparedness and Response Plans Committee.
The head of Health has defended that the Executive has maintained permanent contact with the 14 Spaniards traveling on the ship, who have been "punctually" informed of the protocol that will be followed upon their arrival at the port of Granadilla and of the measures and resources planned to safeguard both their health and public health.
He stressed that "responsibility, common sense, and informed consent" will be appealed to these individuals for voluntary quarantine, although he recalled that there are "legal tools" in the Law of Special Measures in Public Health Matters of 1986 and in the Public Health Law to protect the population in contexts of health alerts.
García has also detailed that foreign passengers will be evacuated and repatriated by their respective countries following international protocols, and that upon their arrival, a control and evaluation will be carried out through Foreign Health and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).