On 18 July, more than 1,200 new cases were recorded in the region following a surge in cases the week before, resulting in new restrictions.

The measures are not as strict as they were at the beginning of lockdown. People are not allowed to meet in groups of more than 10 people and should only leave their homes for essential activities. Bars, restaurants, nightclubs and other cultural activities are also newly restricted.

Spain reopened its borders to the UK on 21 June. Tui relaunched a limited Spanish holiday programme in mid-July and Jet2holidays also resumed its operations.

Internal European Union borders have largely reopened, although it is understood France is monitoring the situation in Spain closely – and may discuss the border situation with authorities in Spain.

Any official order for people to stay at home has to be approved by the Spanish government in Madrid, meaning Catalonia’s move so far only counts as a request rather than a formal lockdown requirement.

The move in Barcelona follows other similar restrictions imposed in other areas of Spain following an increase in Covid-19 infections. Hopefully, such limits on activity will be short lived, and the number of people testing positive will start to fall again soon, allowing people to travel to the popular city for both business and pleasure. Holidaymakers, particularly from the UK, have started to return to the Spanish costas in the last two weeks, hoping for a relief from lockdown restrictions in their own country. However, might the prospect of being locked down in sunny Spain tempt more people to head there in the coming weeks? Only time will tell.