Spain to lift coronavirus quarantine from July 1

26 May 2020, 08:54

People in a bar terrace in Barcelona, on May 25, 2020
People in a bar terrace in Barcelona, on May 25, 2020. Picture: PA

By Asher McShane

Spanish authorities are going to remove the requirement for travellers to go into quarantine for two weeks from July 1.

Cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the quarantine during a meeting yesterday.

However the Home Office is planning to bring in a 14-day quarantine for all travellers arriving to the UK from June 8.

This means anyone trying to travel to Spain would have to stay in quarantine for two weeks on their return.

Spain's government said in a brief statement that cabinet ministers made the decision to lift the mandatory quarantine during a meeting on Monday.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had already announced over the weekend that his nation was ready to welcome some foreign visitors in July.

Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify

The government is looking to establish safe corridors between parts of Spain that have the outbreak under control and similar areas in Europe that are an important source of tourists. There has been no talk so far of reopening to travellers from outside the European Union.

Spain is one of the world's most visited countries, attracting more than 80 million international tourists each year. The industry represents 12% of Spain's GDP and employs 2.6 million people. Its economic importance is even greater on Spain's Canary and Balearic archipelagos.

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Osprey helicopter

US military aircraft carrying eight people crashes into sea off Japan

Grandma Wong

Hong Kong Court hears final arguments in trial of pro-democracy activists

Destroyed homes

Mediators look to extend truce in Gaza on final day

Christopher Luxon

New Zealand PM plans to ban mobile use in schools and repeal tobacco controls

India Tunnel rescue

41 workers emerge after 17 days trapped in collapsed Indian road tunnel

Emily Hand is afraid to speak above a whisper after being kidnapped, her father has said.

Freed Irish-Israeli hostage Emily Hand, 9, was once a ‘happy noisy girl’ but now ‘won’t speak above a whisper’

Amazon offices in New York

Amazon launches business chatbot powered by generative AI

The coffin of former first lady Rosalynn Carter inside Glenn Memorial Church in Atlanta

Rosalynn Carter honoured by family, friends, US first ladies and presidents

Sean 'Diddy' Combs

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs temporarily steps down as Revolt chairman amid allegations

Palestinians walk by a destroyed building in Jebaliya refugee camp, Gaza Strip

More hostages and prisoners freed on fifth day of temporary Israel-Hamas truce

Pope Francis

Pope cancels trip to Dubai for Cop28 on doctors’ orders after getting flu

Hollywood actor and producer Michael Douglas speaks to Indian film producer Shailendra Singh at a session on the last day of the 54th International Film Festival of India, in Goa

Michael Douglas honoured at International Film Festival of India

Aretha Franklin

Judge cites handwritten will and awards real estate to Aretha Franklin’s sons

Pushkar Singh Dhami, right, chief minister of the state of Uttarakhand, greeting a worker rescued from the site of an under-construction road tunnel that collapsed in Silkyara in the northern Indian s

Indian rescuers pull out all 41 workers who were trapped in tunnel for 17 days

Major General Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief

Ukraine spy chief’s wife treated for suspected poisoning with heavy metals

Theater-Eddie Izzard

Eddie Izzard to play every part in Hamlet on return to New York stage