Brits travelling to Spain to be quarantined for 14 days on arrival in holiday blow

BRITS could face a 14-day quarantine period if they fly to Spain from this Friday in another blow for holidaymakers.

The order in Spain for all international visitors may come into force this Friday, May 15 and will remain during the State of Emergency and its possible extensions into at least June and beyond.

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It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said today that foreign summer holidays will likely be cancelled for the year.

Britain has already announced that anyone coming into this country will have to self-isolate for two weeks.

Now, it seems that Brits would also have to self-isolate on arrival at their destination for a fortnight too - bringing the total quarantine to four weeks for a holiday.

Spain have had 26,744 deaths from coronavirus, with 123 new deaths yesterday alone.

In comparison, the UK has had a total of 32,065 deaths, with 210 deaths reported yesterday.

International borders, via flights and ports, have yet to fully reopen in Spain so there is still restricted travel, but some airlines are already announcing plans to restart flights as soon as possible.

Speaking on ITV's This Morning, Mr Hancock said: "I think it’s unlikely that big lavish international holidays are going to be possible for this summer."

On Wednesday, an official announcement is expected from Europe about international travel.

An order published by the Spanish government this morning in the Official State Gazette (BOE) says "travellers who come to Spain from abroad must quarantine themselves for 14 days following their arrival."

In theory, that means if anyone did manage to travel to Spain for a holiday, they would have to abide by the government's confinement rules at that time, which could well mean staying within the confines of their hotel or apartment.

Spain had already applied this measure to the exceptional authorisations granted for the repatriations of Spaniards and residents in Spain affected arriving from Italy.

Now it will be done with every international traveller.

The BOE order says "the favourable evolution of the epidemiological situation" in Spain and the start of the de-escalation "make the control measures precise, so that they take into account the worldwide distribution of the virus and based on the principle of caution, considers it necessary to apply to people who come from abroad the need to carry out a quarantine for 14 days. ”

During this quarantine period, travellers who come to Spain will need to stay at their home or accommodation, and must limit their travel to buying food, pharmaceuticals and basic necessities; attending a health centre or any other displacements due to exceptional need.

The use of a mask will be mandatory in all of them.

Likewise, the Order establishes that it will be mandatory to observe all the hygiene and / or prevention measures for the transmission of the disease caused by the coronavirus, especially with regard to contact with cohabitants.

Health authorities can contact quarantined people to monitor them.

If someone in quarantine shows symptoms such as fever, cough, respiratory distress, general illness or other symptoms of a suspected case of Covid-19, they are asked to call local health services, indicating that they are in quarantine for coming from abroad.

Travel agencies, tour operators and transport companies must inform travellers of these measures at the beginning of the ticket sales process when selling flights or accommodation in Spanish territory.

In the case of air travel, airlines must provide the public health form which must be carried by the traveller upon arrival in Spain.

There will be exceptions to the order including transport crews and health worker.

The Ministry of the Interior is also reestablishing controls at the internal air and maritime borders and only Spaniards, residents of Spain, cross-border workers, diplomats and those accredited by causes of "force majeure"(unexpected circumstances)  will be allowed entry.

The order will take effect at midnight on May 15.

Spain is slowly lifting its confinement rules and most of the country is now in phase one.

This allows residents to go out more, to meet in groups of up to ten and to sit and enjoy a coffee or beer on the terrace of a pub or restaurant.