Spain lifts UK travel ban

SPAIN has lifted its ban on travellers arriving from the United Kingdom by air and sea imposed in December to help prevent the spread of the so-called ‘British’ mutation of Covid-19.

Passengers travelling to Spain will now have to show a negative PCR test for
coronavirus taken within 72 hours before travel.

Ironically, the announcement coincided with the British government introducing fines of £5,000 for people leaving the UK for holidays abroad. It has announced a ban on foreign travel except for health, work, and other essential reasons; the policy will be reviewed next month.

Spain’s decision was announced by central government spokesperson María Jesús Montero following a meeting of the cabinet in Madrid.

She said: “Spain is a safe country that is strictly following the recommendations of the World Health Organisation and the experts.”

The current restrictions on flights from Brazil and South Africa – introduced to help prevent variants of coronavirus identified in both countries – remains in place until mid-April. They were due to expire on March 30.