Second spike in Covid-19 cases in Spain leads to new travel restrictions
Covid-19 cases in Spain have soared, leading to countries imposing new travel restrictions on travel to and from the country
In response to the surge in new cases, France and Norway have both threatened to close their borders with Spain. Catalonia borders France and has been at the heart of the new spike in Covid-19 cases, with nearly 7,000 cases reported in the past 14 days. In Madrid, 2,615 new infections were recorded in one day.
Furthermore, the UK is warning against all non-essential travel to Spain and travellers coming home to the UK from Spain will now have to self-isolate for 14 days. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said: "Travellers should follow the advice of the local authorities on how best to protect themselves and others, including any measures that they bring in to control the virus. If you are returning from Spain (including from the Balearics and Canaries) on or after 26 July, you will be required to quarantine on your return to the UK, but the FCO is not advising you to cut short your visit."
Germany has also advised travellers to avoid the region of Catalonia, citing high infection numbers and local lockdowns as the reason.
Travel agency TUI UK has cancelled all holidays to Spain for two weeks following the announcement by the Foreign Office. In a statement, it commented: “TUI UK has taken the decision to cancel all holidays to mainland Spain up to and including Sunday 9 August 2020. We know how much our customers look forward to their holiday abroad and some will be able to accommodate the new quarantine restrictions."
Airline Jet2 has also cancelled flights to Spain, backtracking on its plan to defy the government advice. In a statement, they said: “We urge the government to provide the industry with clarity, so that we can keep everybody up to date and informed. This is a fast-moving situation, which we are continuing to monitor very closely.”
Meanwhile, some travel firms and consumer rights groups have criticised the UK government over the new restrictions which came without much notice. Rory Boland, Editor of consumer rights magazine Which? Travel, said: "Many holidaymakers will be deeply angry that the government didn't make this decision 48 hours ago, before tens of thousands of them flew off for their summer holidays in Spain. Many would not have travelled if they had known they'd face 14 days of quarantine on their return."