HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

The Spanish government extended the current ban on travellers arriving from the UK on Tuesday until February 16 due to “uncertainties” over the British strain of the virus.

The restrictions which have been in place since the end of December and of which were scheduled to end on February 2 will now be extended for another two weeks the government announced.

It means that only those who are legally resident in Spain and Andorra or who have Spanish nationality will be permitted to enter the country with the restrictions applying to those entering via air or sea.

Spain along with other EU countries applied the restrictions following the discovery of the new British mutant strain first discovered in the south of England in December.

At the moment it is not known just how much more infectious the British strain is which has led the Spanish authorities to announce the current travel restrictions.

At present only 200 cases of the mutant strain have been detected in Spain which is said to be more transmissible than the original strain. Although only a small number of cases have been detected, the Spanish authorities fear that the new variant may become the dominant strain by March.

Anyone travelling into Spain will have to prove that they are residents and present either the new TIE residency card or the older-style green A4 size document.

The British Embassy has advised anyone travelling to Spain from the UK to carry not only the above documents but also others that demonstrate proof of residency such as empadronamiento certificates.

The British government’s travel advice page currently states:-

“If you are resident in Spain, you should also carry the appropriate proof of residency documents as well as a valid passport when you travel.

“Spanish authorities have clarified that either the A4-size or credit card-sized green EU registration certificates, the “Certificado de Registro de Ciudadano de la Unión Europea”, or the new TIE card, the “Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero” are valid proof of residency for UK nationals who wish to return to their homes in Spain.”

When the initial restrictions came into force, there was confusion with a number of people being turned away by airlines and unable to travel back to their homes in Spain.

The problem was eventually addressed by the British and Spanish Embassies who provided a printable document showing the forms of identification that the airlines should be accepting.

International transit through Spanish airports from flights departing from the UK is also not permitted during the restrictions and includes flights from the UK to the Balearic and Canary Islands.

It comes as the British government looks to ramp up its own travel restrictions on those arriving in the UK from countries considered to be Covid hotspots.

The tougher restrictions are expected to be announced by Home Secretary Priti Patel today and could mean that those who arrive in the UK from South America, South Africa and Portugal will have to quarantine for up to 10 days in quarantine hotels at their own cost.

Australia, New Zealand and a number of Asian countries have been using quarantine hotels for some time and many feel that this is one of the reasons that these countries have managed to keep the virus under control.