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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Milo Boyd & Sophie McCoid

Spain's coronavirus rules in full as country lifts restrictions

British tourists are allowed into Spain today, but they will have to follow some strict rules during their holiday.

Spain is welcoming travellers from Britain and Japan without a negative PCR test from Monday, May 24.

But Spain remains on the UK's amber list, with the Prime Minister and senior ministers warning that people shouldn't travel there for leisure, but it is not illegal to do so.

People who do travel to Spain will have to quarantine on their arrival back in the UK and will have to take two coronavirus tests.

And when people get to Spain there are plenty of coronavirus-related hoops travellers they will have to jump through - reports Mirror Online.

Since the national state of emergency declared by the Spanish government on 25 October 2020 ended on 9 May, restrictions across the autonomous regions vary slightly.

Masks

As things currently stand, facemasks must be worn in all public spaces, both indoor and outdoor.

The only exception are people doing sports and children under the age of six.

That means that even those sunning themselves on the beach have to cover their mouth and nose, leading to potentially dodgy tan lines.

However, the rules are not widely enforced or followed by locals.

The health department said earlier this week that masks would soon cease to be mandatory outdoors.

Curfews

Spain has just come out of a six month state of emergency in which strict 11/12pm to 6am curfews were in place.

When they were finally lifted large crowds hit the streets to soak up the cool night air in celebration.

Now there are no restrictions on when people are allowed to leave the house except in the Navarra and the Valencia region, where it may remain in force into next month.

Bars and restaurants

The rules on dining vary quite significantly depending on the region.

Bars and restaurants are open indoors and out until 11pm or 1am in all regions but the Balearic islands, where only al-fresco dining and drinking is allowed.

Some areas, such as Madrid and Andalucía, have no restrictions on how many people can meet together to eat and drink.

In the Canary Islands the limit is 15, in Valencia 10 and in Catalonia and the Balearics six.

Brits heading back to a favourite drinking hole or restaurant would be advised to check whether it is still there.

Coronavirus has had a huge impact on tourist regions in Spain, with as many as 40 per cent of restaurants having gone out of business in Barcelona.

Different regions have different restrictions on indoor capacity, meaning some may lose out in the rush to get a table at more popular spots.

Social distancing

Spanish social distancing rules are slightly different from those in the UK.

People are advised to keep 1.5 metres away from others while in public and encouraged to follow similar hygiene regimes as in the UK.

This means regular and thorough handwashing.

Return to the UK

Once all the fun is over and travellers are making their way back from Spain to the UK, you must enter a period of self isolation.

Travellers returning from all amber countries must take a Covid-19 test before their arrival in England and are required to quarantine for 10 days on their return.

They then must take a test on or before days two and eight.

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