COVID TOURIST INFORMATION FOR TRAVELLERS TO SPAIN FROM JUNE 21st

PRACTICAL COVID – 19 INFORMATION FOR TOURISTS TRAVELLING TO SPAIN POST LOCKDOWN

Spain will lift border controls with all European Union member states from 21st June, the end of the state of emergency , and will no longer impose quarantine on visitors.

From 1 stJuly there will be a staggered opening of borders with outside countries on a list of safe countries drafted by the European Commission, according to these requirements:

1.- Epidemiological conditions equivalent to or better than the EU.

2.- Acceptance of certain healthcare conditions in the place of origin, on the journey and at the destination

3.- Actions taken on the principle of reciprocity. Ie if there is a quarantine measure in one country it will be reciprocated in Spain

WHO CAN ENTER SPANISH TERRITORY?

Due to the official state of alarm declared by the Government of Spain on 14 March 2020, establishing controls on land borders as well as at ports and airports, entering Spain by land will only be permitted for:

• Spanish citizens;
• people normally resident in Spanish territory;
• cross-border workers and others with documents accrediting force majeure or other situations justifying entrance;
• diplomatic staff and consular agents accredited in Spain, travelling in the course of their duties.
• This measure does not affect cargo transport.

QUARANTINE REQUIREMENT FOR TRAVELLERS

Travellers arriving in Spain from other countries must observe a 14-day quarantine. This restriction will be lifted on 1 July.

During the quarantine period, the people specified above must remain in their home or accommodation, leaving only for the following activities:

1. a) Obtaining food, pharmaceutical products and other basic necessities.
2. b) Going to medical centres and getting healthcare services.
3. c) Evacuation due to force majeure or other exceptional situations.

They will be required to wear face masks in all such movements.

These measures do not apply to cross-border workers, couriers and goods carriers, transport crews, and healthcare workers going to work, as long as they have not been in contact with diagnosed cases of COVID-19.

Travel agencies, tour operators and transport companies must inform travellers of these measures at the start of the process of selling tickets to destinations in Spanish territory.

Additionally, the European Union has declared the closure of the EU’s external borders for at least 30 days, (extended until 15 June), with some exceptions, restricting non-essential travel from non-EU countries via ports and airports, as agreed on 17 March by the member countries of the European Council to stop the spread of coronavirus.

WHO IS EXEMPT FROM THE TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS?

• Spanish citizens returning home,
• people from a European Union or Schengen area country, or spouses or registered civil partners of European Union citizens, or their dependent ascendant relatives or descendants, and residents of the associated Schengen states or Andorra, who are going directly to their place of residence.
• freight transporters
• flight crews
• tourists returning home
• medical professionals travelling for work
• diplomatic personnel.
• holders of visas issued in a European Union or Schengen country, travelling to their residence or to the country where the visa was issued.

WHAT PROTECTIVE MEASURES CAN I TAKE TO AVOID THE DISEASE?

The Government will guarantee the supply of the products needed for public health, and has issued a series of general indications and protective measures against this disease, including:

• Clean your hands often, washing them with soap and water or sanitising them using alcohol-based hand sanitisers, especially after direct contact with ill people or their environment
• Cough or sneeze into the crook of your elbow, covering your mouth and nose
• Use disposable tissues and throw them away after use
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth, as the disease can be transmitted by hand-to-face contact
• Anyone with the symptoms of the disease must self-isolate
• There is no need to take special care with animals or food in Spain to avoid infection

PHASES OF THE TRANSITION TO NEW NORMALITY

The Government has prepared a transition plan for returning to normality in four phases. This plan will be finalised at the end of the state of alarm on 21 June. These periods may vary, depending on a set of indicators, including the situation of the pandemic in each province and island of Spain, the capacity of the healthcare system, and other socio-economic data.  During these de-escalation phases travel is not allowed between provinces, between mainland Spain and the islands, or between islands, with certain exceptions.

These are some of the activities which can be undertaken in each phase. The entire Spanish territory has left phase 1 and is now in phases 2 and 3. Galicia is already in the new normality.

4 PHASE  DE-ESCALATION

PHASE 1

• Bars and restaurants may open their terraces, with maximum occupancy of 50%
• Small shops and outdoor markets may open
• Social gatherings of up to 10 people are permitted
• Active tourism and nature activities can be carried out in groups of up to 10 people
• Hotels and tourist establishments may open, with all common areas closed. Restaurant services on terraces may resume, limited to 50% of their maximum capacity
• Museums may reopen with a limit of one third of their capacity
• Premises and establishments for cultural events and performances may be opened to the public with a limitation of 30% of the capacity
• Travel to second residences is permitted
• Houses of worship may open, with maximum occupancy of 30%
• Professional sports training and amateur sports are permitted, without contact, and without using changing rooms

PHASE 2

• Restaurants may open with limited capacity
• Beaches will open, respecting safety and distancing • Swimming pools will open, restricted to 30% of their maximum capacity
• Cinemas, theatres, and museums may admit up to a third of their capacity
• Cultural activities with fewer than 50 people
• Shopping centres may be opened with restrictions on common areas and leisure activity areas
• Common areas in hotels and tourist establishments may be opened with a maximum capacity of 30%
• Nature Reserves will open up to 20% capacity

PHASE 3

• Travel will be allowed within the province, island or territorial unit
• Tourist activities with groups of up to 30 people
• Restaurant capacity will be less restricted but customers must be kept apart
• Shops can admit up to 50% of their capacity
• Bullfights with restricted audience numbers (1 person per 9 square metres)

TRANSITION TOWARDS “NEW NORMALITY”

On 9 June, the Spanish government approved the Royal Decree-Lawon urgent containment and coordination measures to deal with the COVID-19 health crisis, which establishes the regulations to be followed in those provinces that have passed onto phase 3, and once the state of alarm has ended on 21 June.

Among other aspects, it sets forth:

• The mandatory use of face masks by persons over 6 years of age on public roads, outdoors and in enclosed spaces for public use, provided that it is not possible to maintain a social distance of at least 1.5 metres. Exceptions are made for persons with disabilities or respiratory illnesses, as well as when practising sports or eating. Their use is also mandatory on public transport, by air, sea and rail, and in private vehicles if the occupants do not live together at the same address. Failure to comply with this measure will result in a penalty of up to 100 euros.
• Hotels and tourist accommodation, hotels and restaurants, shops, as well as cultural, entertainment and other recreational and sports centres shall ensure that crowds are avoided in common areas, and shall guarantee that customers and workers maintain a minimum interpersonal distance of 1.5 metres. Appropriate hygiene measures shall be observed in these establishments to prevent risks of contagion.
• Free mobility throughout the territory and travel between provinces will be allowed.

THIS INFORMATION IS BEING CONSTANTLY UPDATED. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONSULT YOUR TOUR OPERATOR, AIRLINE OR EMBASSY