Headache for Brits as tourists advised to wear masks inside top Spanish resorts

SPANISH holidaymakers have been advised to wear face masks indoors in venues in Andalusia.

Andalusia, a popular region with British holidaymakers, has recommended mask wearing inside, as Covid cases rise in the country.

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The government has ruled out tougher Covid restrictions for the moment.

It comes after Spanish health experts met to discuss bringing back restrictions.

While the Andalusian Government have reintroduced regulations in nursing homes, they stopped short of bringing new Covid regulations for holidaymakers.

Instead, officials have advised tourists and locals to wear masks inside crowded places – although the guidance is not compulsory.

The advice comes amid soaring cases in China and in the face of new, emerging, Covid strains.

Meanwhile, the Spanish health minister, Carolina Darias, hinted that compulsory mask wearing on public transport may be coming to an end – but has yet to announce a specific end date.

At present masks must be worn on public transport, inside planes and in health centres and pharmacies in Spain.

But President of the regional government in Andalusia, Juanma Moreno, was not impressed by the remarks.

He encouraged locals and tourists alike to follow mask-wearing guidance for as long as people – especially those who are vulnerable.

The Regional Minister for Health Catalina Garcia confirmed the detection of the first case of the Ómicron XBB 1.5 variant in a woman from the province of Cádiz.

She said: “There are no data that show that it [Ómicron XBB 1.5 variant] has a greater repercussion in severity than the variants that already circulate in Andalusia.”

Garcia said that Andalusia once again anticipates a possible scenario of an exponential increase in cases.

She said: “It is our obligation to constantly evaluate the epidemiological situation in Andalusia, as part of our routine and Public Health surveillance.”

The news comes after Spain brought back some of their Covid restrictions due to soaring Covid cases abroad.

Passengers arriving at Spanish airports from China will now be screened for Covid, with arrivals needing a negative Covid test or proof of vaccination.

The measure will remain in place until at least February 15, Spain’s health ministry said in a statement, with travellers arriving from China required to undergo a temperature check and a Covid-19 test.

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