COVID-19

Jabs protect against virus transmission PEOPLE who have been fully immunised against Covid-19 in Spain will no longer have to quarantine if they come into contact with a positive case. The change comes based on scientific research – although those who are fully vaccinated will still have to take two PCR tests to ensure they have not contracted coronavirus. After discussions between the government and region al health chiefs, the […]

Rollout falls short of 15m ‘full protection’ goal THE Spanish government has failed to meet its target to have 15 million people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by June 20 by almost 600,000. It is the first time the rollout has fallen short on the roadmap set out by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to have 70% of the population immunised by the end of summer. The first milestones enroute were successfully […]

SPANISH health experts believe the delta strain of coronavirus – first detected in India – could become the dominant infection across the country. The position of the mutation in the UK, where it has spread rapidly because it has an increased transmissibility – and overtook the position of the alpha or Kent variation, currently the prime source of contagion in Spain. And in Britain the delta variant rapidly went from […]

A EUROPEAN judge has ruled that AstraZeneca must deliver 80.2 million jabs to the European Union by a September 27 deadline or face financial penalties. The legal battle ensued after the manufacturer committed to do its best to supply 300 million doses across the 27 member states by the end of June – but production delays saw the target marked down to 100 million jabs. The EU took action to […]

MANDATORY wearing of masks outdoors in Spain will end on June 26 promised Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez today as he attended a Barcelona business conference. He said his Cabinet would stage an extraordinary meeting next Thursday to discuss the move, which will include having to issue a royal decree to overturn coronavirus restrictions. A long-awaited announcement as regional Covid-19 health rules ease, it comes as the vaccination rollout accelerates and […]

Government plans to invest EU cash THE Spanish government plans to bump start its electric car industry with part of the €140 billion it is set top receive from the European Union’s recovery plan. Madrid is waiting for approval from Brussels on its plans to boost the economy in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. Secretary of State for Industry Raül Blanco maintains the government is looking to invest around […]

Vaccination rollout key to controlling disease THE incidence of Covid-19 in Spain has fallen to its lowest levels for 10 months as the 14-day cumulative number of cases drops under 100 per 100,000 people. The latest statistics reveal the contagion now stands at just over 98 per 100,000 – the first time it has dipped below 100 since August 12 last year just as the second wave of the pandemic […]

A CONFIDENT Spanish prime minister said yesterday the country’s vaccination drive had reached “cruising speed” after a record 3.5 million doses were injected into arms last week. Pedro Sánchez believes a law requiring facemasks outside will soon vanish as the rollout gathers pace with almost 15 million people vaccinated in Spain. He said “we will soon drop the use of facemasks” while in the open air nowcampaign to vaccinate people […]

BRITAIN’S biggest budget airline EasyJet is switching planes to Germany to fly European holidaymakers as many of the UK’s favourite destinations remain on the amber list. Different coronavirus travel restrictions mean British tourists have to self-isolate on their return from holiday – but must also supply a negative Covid test before departure and take two PCR tests, costing around £100, during the 10-day quarantine. The amber list now includes Spain, […]