A British holidaymaker has tested positive for coronavirus after staying at the Tenerife hotel at the centre of an outbreak, according to reports.
Health officials confirmed a Brit woman who arrived at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on 23 February has been diagnosed with COVID-19, Sky News reports, citing the Canary Islands Health Authority.
She has reportedly been isolated in hospital but is believed to be in 'good health'.
Authorities are said to be in the process of contacting anyone who may have been in contact with her, as it's believed she was mixing with other guests for more than a week.
The hotel was placed under lockdown and guests were quarantined after an Italian doctor and his wife who were staying there tested positive for the virus.
A spokeswoman for the regional health authority admitted the unnamed Brit had not been confined to her room for most of her week-long stay at the hotel, like other guests who were showing no symptoms of the virus and were only ordered to remain in their rooms on the day after the first tourist tested positive.
The revelation will be a cause of concern to tourists who were trapped in the hotel for several days before being allowed to fly home.
A Foreign Office spokesperson told Mirror Online: "We are supporting a British woman who has been admitted to hospital in Tenerife.
"Our staff are in close contact with her family and the Spanish medical staff treating her."
No information has been given out about whether she was holidaying alone or with family or friends.
A spokesman for the Canary Islands’ regional health authority confirmed in a statement released today all six people who had been staying at the hotel, the British woman and the five Italians, were in “a good state of health.”
It said: “The last case was confirmed on Monday. “It’s a British woman, one of the guests at the hotel in the south of Tenerife, who has been hospitalised and isolated.
“She was and still is showing no signs of any symptoms and tested positive during the periodic tests that were being carried out inside the hotel where restrictive measures were in operation since Monday of last week.
“This person, who did not form part of the initial group of ten Italians where the first cases occurred, checked into the hotel on February 23 and the regional health authority is still investigating her direct and close contacts.”
Canary Islands President Angel Victor Torres confirmed there would no repeat of the H10 Costa Adeje Palace quarantine if authorities faced a similar situation in a local hotel.
He defended the lockdown decision last week on the basis that it was in line with the advice of Spain’s Ministry of Health at the time.
But he added: “Tourists want to know, if they come to the Canary Islands and coronavirus occurs in the hotel they’re staying at, if they’re going to be quarantined for 14 days.
“I can tell you that with the experience we’ve acquired in this case, other decisions would be taken.”
British tourists who had been quarantined were being flown back to the UK after testing negative for the virus, Jet2holidays yesterday confirmed.
Holidaymakers at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace had previously been told they would have to remain in quarantine until March 10, after at least four tourists were diagnosed with the virus officially known as Covid-19.
But travel operator Jet2holidays said on Monday that its customers at the hotel would return to the UK yesterday afternoon.
A Jet2holidays spokeswoman said on Monday: "We are pleased to confirm that Jet2holidays customers at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace will be flying back to the UK with us on a dedicated flight this afternoon, following their negative test results for Covid-19 and subject to them showing no symptoms on departure."
"As we have made explicitly clear, our number one priority is the health and safety of our customers, our colleagues, and the general public," a spokeswoman added.
"We have been working closely with the FCO, Public Health England and the hotel to find a solution which ensured the best outcome for our customers in the hotel, whilst making sure we fulfilled those responsibilities."
Travel firm Tui said 17 of its customers were flown back on two separate flights to Bristol and Newcastle on Sunday night after testing negative for coronavirus.
A Tui spokeswoman said its remaining 19 holidaymakers would be flown to Britain today, subject to their test results.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) said it was working closely with authorities in Spain to ensure that Britons who do not have coronavirus can fly home.
An FCO spokesman said: "If you are travelling with a tour operator, you need to contact them. If you are an independent traveller, you will need to ensure you plan enough time to get your test result before you fly."
Public Health England (PHE) said on Saturday that any individuals who have returned from the coronavirus-hit hotel are advised to self-isolate until March 10.
She said: "If they develop symptoms in that time, they should call NHS 111 and they will be tested for Covid-19."
In a letter to British holidaymakers at the hotel, the PHE said anyone who tests positive for the virus will be kept in isolation by Spanish authorities until they test negative.
Only then will they be able to return to the UK "without any restrictions", the letter said.
Spanish authorities have said that the risk of infection for any Britons staying at the hotel is low, according to PHE.
The FCO said hotel guests should contact the medical testing team to book an appointment and inform the Foreign Office of their flight number.
Some guests staying at the hotel in the south west of the Spanish island have previously criticised the quarantine measures.
