Sources suggest country is heading for another total lockdown
Passengers returning to the United Kingdom from Spain will be required to quarantine for 14-days from Sunday as Coronavirus cases in the country are once again rising rapidly.
In the last two weeks, the infection rate in Spain has tripled prompting fears of a second-wave of the deadly virus that causes COVID-19.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) now says that “From 25 July, the FCO advises against all non-essential travel to mainland Spain based on the current assessment of COVID-19 risks.”
Confirming the need to quarantine it adds: “The FCO is not advising those already travelling in Spain to leave at this time. 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 after 25 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. You should contact your tour operator or airline if you have any questions about your return journey.”
The news comes as UK airlines including TUI, Easyjet and Jet2 start to resume flights to the popular summer holiday destination.
Low-cost carrier Easyjet (E2/EZY) said it planned to operate its full schedule of flights to Spain and said it was “disappointed that the Government has decided to impose a quarantine requirement for those travelling from the whole of Spain since the increased occurrence of Coronavirus is regional rather than nationwide.”
The airline added that customers that did not wish to travel can “transfer their flights without a change fee or receive a voucher for the value of the booking”
Sources inside Spain have also suggested that the country, which has already seen over 28,000 deaths from the virus, could be on the verge of an immediate and total lockdown to help contain a second wave which could potentially leave Britons stranded abroad.
A Spanish Government Virus Expert, Maria Jose Sierra, said: “In two weeks, we have tripled our rate of contagion.” adding “We could be seeing a second wave, but we have to see what happens in the coming weeks.”
Shortly after the FCO advice changed, Wales’ Health Minister Vaughan Gething AM announced that passengers arriving into Wales from Spain will also need to quarantine for 14-days.
Scotland has also now joined England and Wales and re-imposed its 14-day quarantine for Spain.
