COVID-19

THE European Union digital Covid-19 certificate is allowing Spanish people to travel and “return to mobility”, health chiefs said. More than nine million residents have downloaded the so-called Covid ‘passport’; which proves they have been immunised against coronavirus, received a negative test result, or have recovered from the disease. Spain’s Health Ministry said that 280,000 people have already used the certificate to fly from one airport to another.

Young adults affected in fifth wave of coronavirus HEALTH Minister Carolina Darias reports that 83% of new cases of Covid-19 in the fifth wave of the pandemic affect unvaccinated people. The number of infections continues to rise in Spain, but the minister said the rate the disease was spreading was beginning to slow down. She was speaking after the latest meeting of the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Health System, […]

VALENCIA president Ximo Puig has appealed to the public to use “common sense” and wear a face mask outside when social distancing cannot be followed. The politician said he does not foresee making wearing a face covering outdoors mandatory again but recommended wearing a mask “when there is the least doubt” over being in a crowd. As holidaymakers flock to the coastal areas and resorts of the region for summer […]

Police investigate assault on the Madrid Metro A MALE nurse was punched after asking a fellow passenger to wear a face mask on the Spanish capital’s underground transport system. The National Police are investigating the incident after watching a video of the assault in a carriage as a train pulled into the station of Alto del Arenal, on Line 1 of the Metro. It is alleged in a disagreement over […]

Holiday favourites could follow France’s fate SPAIN could be the next big holiday destination to be placed on the ‘amber-plus’ list, say travel industry experts – meaning double-jabbed UK visitors have to quarantine on their return. From today people who are fully vaccinated with an NHS certificate do not have to self-isolate on their return from ‘amber’ countries.  However, on Friday the UK government controversially said this did not apply […]

Vaccine rollout to reach 70% target in weeks MINISTER of Health Carolina Darias has called for Spain to continue its fight against Covid-19 and the ongoing need to control the contagion. Speaking before the health and consumer affairs committee in the Spanish parliament, she underlined the importance of “perseverance, both at an individual and institutional level”. She said the need to control the spread of the disease through a combination […]

THE fifth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is starting to trigger more hospital admissions of Covid-19 patients but the pressure on healthcare remains lower than in previous spikes. The national incidence of the virus is above 500 per 100,000 people – the highest since February – and the number of patients with covid in hospital has risen to 4,705, the number has almost doubled over a fortnight. But the pressure […]

SPAIN’S Constitutional Court has ruled that the strict lockdown imposed in Spain to help curb the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic broke the country’s constitution. Introduced as part of the state of emergency measures in March 2020, it allowed the government to temporarily limit civil liberties – confining most of the population to home and closing down all but essential industry. The court will release a full judgement later, […]

IBIZA, Majorca, Menorca and Formentera are being moved to the government’s amber travel list for England on Monday – Scotland and Wales will do the same - and Northern Ireland is likely to follow. It means anyone aged over 18 who is not fully vaccinated must quarantine on their return from any ‘amber’ destination. The Balearics were only added to the green list a fortnight ago but Transport Secretary Grant […]