Irish tourists heading to the sunny coasts of Spain over the coming months are being warned about the potential of new restrictions there due to the latest surge in Covid-19 cases.
Some health officials are suggesting that the need for mandatory mask wearing should be brought in at popular tourist destinations to avoid a huge surge of infection amid the busy season.
Popular holiday hotspots like the Canary Islands and Costa del Sol would be affected by the new rules should officials consider them a necessity to curb the spread.
Although nothing has been set in stone yet, visitors are being advised to act with caution and wear a face mask indoors if they are in a particularly busy venue.
Tourists are also reminded that some settings in Spain still require people to wear a mask - if they over the age of six - including on public transport, if you are visiting a hospital or medical centre.
Although the Spanish government dropped the restrictions that saw masks made compulsory in bars, shops and restaurants back in April, they have now said they cannot rule out the potential for bringing this back.
On Tuesday, Amós García Rojas, a public health official for the Canary Islands, insisted that “the pandemic is not gone.”
He said: “It is necessary to continue maintaining certain restrictions and care, perhaps in the obligation to wear a mask indoors if the situation does not improve."
"To all this must be added with the appearance of new variants of Covid which have more transmissible characteristics, and cause many more infections, but fortunately are also less virulent, most are mild or asymptomatic."
Mr Rojas also urged everyone to get their vaccine or booster if they’re due one and said if you are working or living with vulnerable people, the elderly or those with serious illnesses, you should always wear masks.
He warned that if things do not subside over the coming weeks, "we will have to act accordingly" and suggested that parties planned in popular Spanish resorts over the summer should be reconsidered if they are to avoid a bout of new restrictions to control the outbreak.
"The massive parties that are taking place in Tenerife and Gran Canaria will lead to more infections,” he said.
“If the situation is not redirected, measures will have to be taken."
READ NEXT:
Lidl shopper is €500,000 richer after picking up life-changing EuroMillions win
Garda knocked to the ground at checkpoint in hit-and-run outside Elton John's Cork concert
Irish tourist, 20, rushed to hospital after plunging from hotel in Santa Ponsa
Under-threat Mr Flashy facing court over handling booze stolen from popular Dublin restaurant
Tributes to 'kind' Irishman, 17, who died while walking the road in Kildare tragedy
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter.
