When will Spain quarantine be reviewed?

SPAIN was removed from the UK government’s list of safe travel corridors following a spike in Covid-19 infections.

From July 26, new rules have meant anyone travelling from Spain into the UK is required to self-isolate and remain in quarantine for 14 days.

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When will Spain quarantine be reviewed?

From July 27, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advised against all non-essential travel to Spain, including the Balearic and Canary Islands.

The advice is based on evidence of increases in cases of COVID-19 in several regions, particularly in Aragon, Navarra and Catalonia (which include the cities of Zaragoza, Pamplona and Barcelona).

Initially, the UK reviewed the nations included on the ‘safe’ list every three weeks, but now a rolling review system could see countries removed from the list at short notice.

“We have to keep the situation under review and I think that is what the public would expect us to do,” junior health minister Helen Whately told Sky News on Monday, July 27.

She continued: “If we see rates going up in a country where at the moment there is no need to quarantine, if we see the rates going up, we would have to take action because we cannot take the risk of coronavirus being spread again across the UK.

At present there is no ‘official’ date for a review of the quarantine rules.

However, it is expected the government will stick to the planned three-week review of the exemption list if no review happens sooner.

This would mean UK quarantine restrictions for people arriving from Spain could come up for a review no later than August 16.

What are the current rules?

The most updated FCO advice doesn’t require Brits travelling to Spain to self-quarantine upon arrival.

Travellers will be asked to provide the Spanish Ministry of Health with mandatory contact information and any history of Covid-19 exposure 48 hours prior to travel.

They will also be subject to a temperature check and a visual health assessment.

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If returning to the UK you will need to provide details of your journey and contact details BEFORE you travel.

Those rules continue to apply for the time being – both to Brits returning to the country and tourists arriving from abroad.

Anyone entering the country must provide contact details and then self-isolate for 14 days, or face a fine of up to £1,000.

Police are conducting checks to ensure people are quarantining and not leaving their residence for the two-week period.

Magistrates also have the powers to prosecute or to issue unlimited fines for persistent breaches of the new self-isolation rule, or for refusal to pay a fine that has already been issued.

The quarantine is being run and enforced by Border Force, cops, and Public Health England officials.

Brits living in the UK can quarantine at their own home, but they are not allowed to leave the house for a fortnight.

Anyone without accommodation should be provided alternative accommodation by the government.

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How can I cancel my holiday?

Consumer group Which? says that it’s crucial you wait for the holiday company to cancel your trip if you want a chance of getting your money back.

If you have a package holiday booked to Spain you are likely to be entitled to a full refund when the advice from the FCO changes.

But do not cancel it yourself and wait for your holiday provider to get in contact – otherwise you won’t be entitled to compensation.

For hotels and flights booked individually, you will get a refund if the airline cancels the flight, you will be refunded.

If the flight hasn’t been cancelled by the airline, you will not be automatically entitled to a refund.

If you have travel insurance, check your policy to see what kind of cover you have.

Each hotel will operate its own policy – so contact your accommodation provider as soon as possible.