Covid surge in ‘green list’ Balearic Islands after cases jump by 500 in two days as Brits flock to Ibiza and Majorca

THE Balearic Islands’ hopes of staying on the UK’s travel green list suffered a blow after more than 500 people tested positive for coronavirus in two days.

The worrying infections surge came as thousands of boozy Brit sunseekers flew into resorts in Ibiza and Majorca last week.

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Yesterday Balearics government health officials said there had been 303 new cases, 70 more than the 233 recorded on Saturday.

The rate of tests coming back positive is also up, from 6.76 per cent on Saturday to nearly 8.5 per cent yesterday.

And the number of Covid sufferers in hospital intensive care units is now 14, with ten in Majorca, three in Ibiza and one in Menorca.

There has also been a dramatic spike in the two-week Covid infection rate - a key measure when officials decide on safe travel rules.

There are now almost 130 current cases per 100,000 inhabitants, more than triple the rate at the end of May.

Experts have been warning for some days that the Balearic Islands are in a “critical” situation although they have steered clear of saying the region is in the grip of a new wave of coronavirus.

But the case numbers will fuel fears that the Balearics face being removed from the UK green list in a hammer blow for the tourism industry.

Beaches are bars were packed with UK tourists at the weekend after the islands were added to the quarantine-free green list from Wednesday.

Magaluf had to send armed cops to break up drunken fights as boozy Brits sparked "disgraceful scenes".

The Covid surge in islands like Majorca has been partly blamed on a huge outbreak among students who travelled from the Spanish mainland for end-of-term celebrations.

But island bosses fear unchecked partying by tourists could drive a surge in the Delta variant which is now dominant in the UK.

The Balearics are on Britain's "green watch list", meaning they could go back to amber when the list is revised later this month.

Portugal was kicked off the green list last month, causing chaos for holidaymakers who had to pay for for new flights home to beat quarantine rules.

On Friday Angela Merkel backed down on her attempt to impose mandatory 14-day quarantine for all Brits arriving in the EU.

Spain and Greece were among nations that defied the German chancellor fearing the impact on tourism.

Spain is one of the few destinations open to Brits, allowing tourists in without quarantine if they have had just one jab.