Certain Spanish holiday destinations could soon bring back restrictive coronavirus measures, amid concerns over a threatening new variant.
Holidays in Spain were dominated by travel restrictions for the better part of two years - in a bid to restrict the spread of the pandemic-causing virus.
But as of October 2022, the last but one of those measures was dropped completely, signalling a grand return to some form of normality for visitors.
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The Mirror reports that the only measure that currently remains is a requirement to wear a mask on public transport, inside airplanes and in health centres, including pharmacies - but it now looks as though the country may adopt some stricter restrictions once more, as the threat of a new strain increases.
The popular region of Andalusia - which contains Malaga, Seville and Granada - has become the first major location to hint that some sort of new regulations could be reintroduced, with president of the regional government Juanna Moreno asking for "maximum precautions".
Earlier this week, the official admitted that he wouldn't rule out the "adoption of preventative measures", saying: "I prefer to be far-sighted."
Mallorca is already advising local people and visitors to wear masks inside, though health chiefs say this will continue to be a matter of choice, for the time being at least. Mr Moreno expressed his concern about the millions of infections in China and the possibility that new strains could overcome vaccines.
He has confirmed that Andalusia's public health committee will meet on January 17 so that experts can give their opinions on the present situation and "shed light on how we can address some of the aspects which are worrying us". He said: "Prevention is better than cure and it is better to be two little steps in front rather than two little steps behind.
"I prefer to err on the side of foresight and that we go ahead with decisions in case we had some sort of incident that we hope and trust won't occur."
With the World Health Organisation recommending the reuse of masks indoors, Minister of Health of the Balearic Government, Patricia Gómez, has urged visitors and tourists alike to be vigilant. She said the use of the mask indoors was recommended, but in any case not mandatory or at least for now.
"We all know that it is in closed spaces when the virus circulates actively," she said. "The mask is a preventive measure although at the moment there are no indications to return to a generalised mandatory use in interiors."
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