COVID-19

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 […]

FINANCE chiefs in Brussels have approved investment plans of 12 member states – including Spain – which means European Union funds can flow to boost economic recovery. It is estimated €800 billion in aid, financed by unprecedented joint borrowing, and made available in grants and loans, will boost recovery from the Covid-19 economic fallout. It is thought the EU recovery spending could add 3.5% growth to the gross domestic product […]

TOURIST industry chiefs believe the sector will suffer after Germany declared the whole of the country – including the Balearic and Canary Islands – a coronavirus risk area as infections rise. It means travellers returning home will have to provide a negative test but with tourism already struggling to recover from the pandemic, the move is seen as a “clear disincentive” for holidaymakers before the peak season when Germans flock […]

Fully vaccinated visitors spared quarantine on return THE Spanish tourism industry has welcomed new travel arrangements which will allow UK travellers the opportunity to visit without having to quarantine on their return. Residents fully-vaccinated against Covid-19 through the NHS will not have to isolate for 10 days on return from an amber list country from July 19; under 18s will also be spared quarantine. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced a […]

Concern at growth of Covid cases SENIOR members of the Valencia government will meet with health chiefs later today to assess the upturn in coronavirus cases in the region – and discuss the possibility of new health restrictions. President Ximo Puig announced yesterday the authority would consider adopting new measures in a bid to control the spike. He admitted “we are observing the rise in cases with great concern” and […]

Virus soars amongst young party people SPANISH regional authorities are bringing back strict controls for nightlife only weeks after easing restrictions in a bid to contain a spike in Covid-19 infections amongst young people. While people aged under 30 are the most resilient to coronavirus, there are fears they will help spread the disease to more vulnerable groups – such as people waiting to be fully protected by vaccination or […]

Covid: Young at heart of Spanish surge INFECTIONS amongst young people are behind the latest spike in Covid-19 say worried Spanish health chiefs. The contagion rates have been falling since April but recently the downward trend began slowing and on Wednesday began rising once again – the 14-dat cumulative number of cases now stands at 117 per 100,000 people. However, when broken down into age groups, the focus on new […]