Spain has seen an influx of Covid cases but remains on the travel list
As it is, Spain has seen an increase in coronavirus infections, with fears Barcelona will need to go back into lockdown.
This all comes not long after Scotland lifted the quarantine restriction upon travellers from Spain.
Scotland included Spain as a destination mandatory for quarantine, on return from the holiday destination. This was lifted on the 20th of July, but the Mirror reports cases soaring within Spain, only two days later.
Major Tourist Spots Hit With Covid
The outbreaks are believed to be local, with Barcelona the worst affected-but where does this leave the UK? 201 local outbreaks have been recorded in Spain recent. With the numbers worse than they were at the end of June.
Were the Scottish government a little too quick to reinstate Spain on the travel list?
It certainly seems so. Over 400 new cases were reported in Spain over the weekend before the restriction was lifted by the Scottish government on the following Monday. Residents within Barcelona were even warned to stay indoors.
For the UK, this could mean a whole new wave of infection, simply from one person returning from Spain with the virus. The implications are huge.
The restriction set by Scotland was reassuring. It appeared the government were treading with caution. However, the balancing act seems to now have tilted too far to the other side.
With so many people congregating at holiday destinations, it is only too understandable how this could have happened.
Worrying Numbers
Common sense may have predicted this. Pictures of the beach in Spain are stowed out, and the English school holidays just broke.
It is reported, that of every 100,000 inhabitants within Spain, there are 27 infections. This is in comparison to 8, at the end of June.
The government could well decide to put Spain back on the restricted list, but at what cost?
Travellers could face a two-week quarantine on returning from the much-loved destination, unplanned.
Yet, do travellers only have their self to blame?
The quick reinstatement of aviation within the UK has come as a surprise. Many people would have expected all summer holidays to have been cancelled. This is a global pandemic that is still ongoing. Even though the economy is just as much at stake, no one wants to risk a second lockdown.
Proceeding with caution would have been the best foot forward, there are plenty (European) countries on the unrestricted list for people to visit.
As popular as Spain is, there is no chance I would be risking any flight anywhere.
Nada.
NOWHERE. After all the information available, it would be ignorant to hop on the plane, as much as it may be thwarted after.
The ventilation alone is enough to multiply spread, let alone the air conditioning.
And yet, governments have given the green light?
Since schools have not even been allowed to return, would it not have gone without saying to have put a hold on flights? Whilst everyone revs up their game for the British holiday, the government are cutting fresh fruit for the sangria.
As much as the economy relies on holidaymakers, many events have already been cancelled, and many people will have forgone the idea. Would it have been one step too far to have banned all flights until at least next year?
Yes, it certainly may have been simpler. People can live without the annual summer holiday.
It would have allowed for a settling period, and a timeframe to reevaluate where to go next.
For instance, spectator sport is cancelled as it is, and events such as the Edinburgh Fringe, and the Olympics are a no-go.
Yet, a beach in Magaluf gets the big thumbs up?
Of course, a beach is not an organised activity, and people have their own free will.
Spanish reports have come across as ‘worried’ about the tourist season, and this is understandable. Spain relies massively on tourism as the tourism GDP is 10-11%. It is also described as the third highest-earning industry.
75 Million Tourists Annually
On the other hand, having marched forward with tourism may have hampered Spain’s reputation. A virus is not an easy problem to contain, never mind with a fresh 75 million entering the country.
This is the situation everyone is facing. The decision on air travel, given all the information the government have at their fingertips, suggests air travel needed to be left off the table. There has been evidence that suggests coronavirus is transmitted as an aerosol. A fine spray, that can hang in the air for up to a few hours, or travel in vents. Think of air conditioning.
This is extremely suggestive evidence for the case against air travel. Any country with an influx of cases, at the least, needs quarantine insisted upon. Let’s not make the same mistake twice, and wait to be hasty.
Also, read As lockdown restrictions in Spain became more and more
