Spain Extends Travel Restrictions For Third-Country Nationals Until May 3
Spain News
Published: 20 April 2021 14:42 CET
The Spanish government announced on Tuesday that it would be extending the current travel restrictions on third-country nationals entering Spain.
This new law will operate until May 3, 2021, but could be extended if the highly infectious countries do not contain the spread of the virus.
The two-week extension on the restrictions comes after the EU Council recommended modifying the original proposal regarding the temporary travel ban to the EU.
The new manifesto states that anyone entering Spain from a country with high risks of the new virus variants, such as South Africa and Brazil, should self-isolate for up to 10 days.
Different studies carried out on the Brazillian variant, also known as P.1, have shown that it has a high transmittable rate, suggesting a link between the variant and the elevated number of infections.
The Spanish Ministry of Health issued a press release that stated that anyone who arrives in Spain (with or without stops in other countries) from any airport located in Brazil, Botswana, Colombia, Ghana, Mozambique, Peru, South Africa, Tanzania, Union of Comoros, Zambia and Zimbabwe, must self-isolate for 10 days.
Tourists can however cut their 10-day self-isolation spell short, by taking a Covid test on day seven and submitting a negative test result.
The Spanish Government has made it perfectly clear that all tourists from the above countries, “must not leave their accommodation during their 10 day self-isolation period.”
They must not meet up with other people and should limit all non-essential travel. They can however carry out essential duties, such as providing assistance to the healthcare centres, shopping for food and medications, or leave their place of isolation due to an emergency.
The Government's press release says “Concerns about the effects of the Brazilian and South African variants remain, both in terms of their impact due to greater transmissibility, the risk of reinfections and a possible decrease in vaccine efficacy, as well as their extension to countries close to where they are initially detected.”
The Ministry of Health also announced via its Twitter feed that a separate travel ban on non-Spanish nationals arriving from Brazil and South Africa would also be extended until May 11.
Only a short time ago, Spain enforced restrictions (due to end at the end of April) on all non-essential travel from countries outside of the EU and Schengen Zone, to prevent the further spread of the Coronavirus.
Conversely, the Spanish authorities decided to lift all COVID-19 measures for UK passengers flying into the country, however, strict rules and entry requirements remain in force.
Source
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/spain-extends-travel-ban-for-third-countries-with-covid-19-variants-for-another-two-weeks/
https://twitter.com/sanidadgob/status/1384431647194456064
