Red List Fears As Covid Cases Increase Among Holidaymakers Returning To UK From Spain
Spain News
Published: 17 August 2021 17:09 CET
Fears for Spain being added to the travel ‘red list’ grow, as Covid infections amongst those holidaymakers returning to the UK surge.
Each and every year, thousands of Brits travel to the extremely popular holiday destination and although things this year are a bit different due to the Coronavirus, many have still chosen to enjoy the beautiful beaches and weather that Spain has to offer.
From those returning to the UK from Spain, figures show that more than one in 35 has tested positive for Covid. The NHS Test and Trace data shows that, after returning to the UK, 2.9 per cent of people tested positive.
These new figures are causing concern and with the next UK travel update scheduled for next week, the question on people’s minds is: Will the top holiday hotspot be added to the red list?
Speaking to Sky News, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, who will announce the new travel updates, discussed the possibility of some countries being moved on to the red list in the next review.
He said: “With coronavirus, you can never say there is zero chance.”
“But having said that, the levels of vaccination and what we now know about the virus and what our scientists have been able to work out in the last year means that people should be able to go away, enjoy their holidays without looking over their shoulders the whole time."
Mr Shapps had, however, previously refused to rule out Spain being moved.
If Spain is moved to the ‘red list’, thousands of people will see themselves having to, unexpectedly, quarantine for two weeks at a Government-mandated hotel on their arrival back to the UK.
There has, however, been some confusion as to whether you have to self-isolate your return to the UK from red list countries if you have been double vaccinated.
Despite the fact that Covid infections in Spain are, on the whole, falling, the 2.9 per cent positive rate of returning UK travellers is well above the figure for UK residents. According to the latest ONS figures, this currently stands at 1.2 per cent.
The Spanish Ministry of Health’s latest daily Covid update, which was published on Monday, shows that the national 14-day incident rate continues to steadily fall.
25,726 new cases were confirmed over the weekend, leaving the figure at 416 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. This represents a drop of around 40 per cent since the peak of the fifth wave was reached in late July.
Additionally, the 7-day rate is yet again under half of the 14-day figure at 168, indicating that numbers are likely to decrease further over the next few days.
However, even though case numbers show a downward trend, the effects of the fifth wave of the virus are still being felt in hospitals across the whole of Spain.
During the weekend the number of Covid patients admitted for treatment remained almost the same at 9,356, accounting for 7.97 per cent of all occupied beds.
Likewise, the number of Covid patients in intensive care remained steady at 1,931, accounting for almost 21 per cent of available beds.
Sadly, another 125 Covid-related deaths were reported over the weekend. This takes the official death toll since the pandemic reached Spain, to 82,595.
The vaccination programme continues with almost exactly half a million doses administered over the weekend. 29,794,008 people have now been fully vaccinated, this equates to 62.8 per cent of the population.
The number of people having received at least one vaccination has reached 34,716,227. This is equivalent to 73.2 per cent of the population.
Many of those now being vaccinated are in the age groups with the highest infection rates, specifically those between 12 and 29.
Due to the vaccination campaign having only just reached these age groups, only 7.6 per cent of 12-19-year-olds have been fully vaccinated.
In the 20-29 age group, 67.1 per cent have received at least one dose and 31.7 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
Source
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/documentos/Informe_GIV_comunicacion_20210816.pdf
https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/documentos/Actualizacion_441_COVID-19.pdf
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/travel/red-list-fear-spain-covid-21322191
https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/gatwick-airport-spain-put-red-5796245
https://murciatoday.com/august-16-covid-update-spain-incidence-rate-drops-again-but-125-more-lives-lost_1633460-a.html
