Defiant British tourists have brushed off coronavirus fears in Spain as the country sees a sharp spike in cases.
Spain reported 1,358 cases on Tuesday and 4,581 over the weekend – bringing its total to 266,194. More than 28,000 people have died.
Cases have tripled – from eight cases per 100,000 to 27 per 100,000 – in the last month sparking fears that British tourists already on holiday in Spain might have to quarantine when they land back home.
But Britons already soaking up the Spanish sunshine say Spain potentially being kicked off the the UK government’s list of quarantine-exempt countries is not a big concern and anyone looking for a break should come regardless.
Two people have tested positive for coronavirus in Marbella as Spain sees a sharp spike in cases in recent weeks
In Magaluf, Wigan holidaymaker Charmaine Bell, 37, told The Mirror: ‘I’m not too worried really, because we work in ASDA we are used to Covid and it really doesn’t scare us anymore, we know how to deal with it and be sensible.’
Sunseeker Mark Nolan, 36, added: ‘It is a little worrying they could be put on the unsafe list because that was one of the things that put us off coming but to be honest my advice to people at the moment would be to just come.
‘It really hasn’t been that bad to deal with and we are having great fun, if they did bring in quarantine there is very little we can do about it is there?’
It was today revealed that two people have tested positive for coronavirus in Marbella – the first in the city in 11 days.
The last time Marbella saw coronavirus cases was on July 10, when two people were diagnosed, The Sun reports.
There were two other cases on July 3.
Also sparking concern, Malaga – which is just a short journey down the coast from Marbella – has seen 23 cases in the last day.
Two women wearing face masks walk along La Misericordia Beach in Malaga on July 22
Spanish police have been confiscating sunbeds and evicting tourists to abide by social distancing rules on the Costa del Sol
The Spanish royal family (left to right: Crown Princess Leonor, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Princess Sofia) pose for photographers during their visit to Merida, Spain, on Wednesday
Spain is on the list of 59 quarantine-exempt countries that Britons can travel to without needing to isolate for 14 days when they get back home.
But Whitehall sources have told The Sun that Spain’s recent outbreaks are being monitored and the country – or specific regions within it – could be thrown off the list all together if a decision is made this week.
CEO of travel consultancy The PC Agency Paul Charles said: ‘It makes sense that if cases continue to rise in Spain, it should fall off the list.
‘This is the equivalent of implementing a local lockdown, internationally, but the problem is we are heading into peak holiday season.’
A ‘rolling system’ for determining the safety of 25 of the 59 countries on the list is set to be introduced whereby information on each destination will be updated frequently – as opposed to reviewed every three weeks.
Only 25 of the 59 allow travel without any restrictions when travellers arrive there.
Tourists walk along the beach without wearing face masks amid coronavirus crisis this week
Barcelona City Council information staff is seen informing some tourists that the access to the beach is closed due to excess capacity
A Spanish Guardia Civil officer watches over revellers in Magaluf as the country tries to balance reopening beachfront bars with protecting against a deadly second wave of cases
Tourists on a night out in Magaluf, Spain, last week. The country faces being taken off the safe list of nations with low coronavirus infection rates after a new spike in cases
To add to the confusion for holidaymakers, the Foreign Office has published its own list of 67 countries where advice against ‘all but essential travel’ no longer applies. This list already has a rolling system.
This week, a British tourist caused a coronavirus scare in Lanzarote after she tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in quarantine after arriving from the UK for a holiday on the popular Canary island.
Nine other people with whom she had contact with also had to undergo a coronavirus test but all proved negative.
Health authorities on Lanzarote have been testing tourists showing symptoms for Covid-19 and their close contacts. A British woman has tested positive after her husband became symptomatic – although he tested negative for coronavirus
Passengers arriving in Lanzarote have to wear face masks while making their way through the airport. Anyone showing Covid symptoms is tested and risk being placed into quarantine
The Briton is the first holidaymaker from the UK to test positive in Lanzarote since Spain opened its borders on June 21st.
It was actually the woman’s husband who felt unwell on arrival at their hotel and had a fever. However, two tests for coronavirus proved negative.
The woman was routinely tested and despite having no symptoms of ill-health whatsoever was the one who was confirmed to have COVID-19.
The island’s health department said the coronavirus protocols had been activated at reception on the couple’s arrival so they had minimum contact with other people. A specialist team immediately went into action to trace all contacts, including staff.
The health department hasn’t specified where the woman is in quarantine or if her husband is with her or if the nine others also have to self-isolate.
Lanzarote currently has eleven active cases of coronavirus: the British tourist, a resident who came from Mexico and went to the José Molina Orosa Hospital Emergency Department with symptoms and nine illegal immigrants who tried to smuggle themselves into the island in a tiny boat.
Leaders of the Canaries say other illegal migrants have tested positive and this is giving a wrong impression of the level of coronavirus on the islands which have had a relatively low incidence of infections and deaths.
Last Friday, a boat containing 61 immigrants arrived on the neighbouring island of Fuerteventura and 47 proved positive.
Health chiefs say there is no threat to people’s health and the situation is properly under control.