Holiday warning as popular hotspots extend Covid rules – including Spain & Italy

A NUMBER of popular holiday hotspots in Europe are yet to lift their Covid restrictions, affecting families heading abroad during the Easter holiday.

We’ve rounded up the Covid rules which are ongoing or have been extended for some Brit-favourite countries so you don’t get caught out.

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Spain

Spain has extended its Covid entry requirements until April 30, so only vaccinated Brits or those who can show proof of recovery can enter.

Unvaccinated people who cannot show they had Covid within the last six months are still not permitted entry.

Spain was expected to relax the entry requirement at the end of March, but the Ministry of Health has extended the rules until the end of this month.

Travellers must be able to prove they were fully vaccinated against Covid within the last 270 days.

If you received your second dose more than nine months ago, you must have had a booster jab to be allowed in.

There are different rules for teens, as they don’t need to be vaccinated to enter Spain.

Kids aged between 12 and 17 who haven’t had both of their jabs can enter by showing proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arriving in Spain.

Children aged below 12 are exempt from all testing and vaccination rules.

Everyone must fill in an online Health Control Form before travelling.

Italy

Italy has had some of the strictest Covid rules in Europe throughout the pandemic, although has begun to ease this month.

Italy relaxed its Covid pass system on April 1, with Brits no longer needing to show the pass to eat or drink in outdoor areas of bars and restaurants.

However, some rules will not be lifted until next month – too late for Easter hols.

From May 1, the pass will be scrapped entirely, along with the strict face mask policy which requires everyone to wear FFP2 masks on public transport, in theatres, concert halls, cinemas and at sporting events.

To visit Italy, tourists need to have had both their jabs within the last 270 days.

If it has been more than nine months since you had your second jab, you need to have had your booster, otherwise you will be considered unvaccinated.

Unvaccinated Brits need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before entering Italy or a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours before entering Italy.

Adult travellers need to fill in a Passenger Locator Form to enter Italy.

There is some good news for Brits, however, as some countries are relaxing their rules – Greece relaxed its Covid entry requirements, making it easier for vaccinated Brits to visit.

Greece has extended the vaccination validity from seven months to nine months, so the vaccine certificate lasts two months longer – making it easier for vaccinated Brits to travel.

Last week, France put the UK on its green list and scrapped the requirement for unvaccinated travellers to need an essential reason to enter the country.

The country also ditched its strict Covid vaccine passport rules, which Brits had previously needed to enter restaurants, bars and cinemas, and scrapped mandatory face masks.

Cyprus relaxed their Covid rules last month, with vaccinated travellers no longer needing to take pre-departure tests.

For Turkey, vaccinated Brits can enter without needing to test or quarantine while Portugal eased its Covid restrictions for vaccinated travellers back in February.

Gibraltar has scrapped all testing rules along with the requirement for arrivals to fill in a passenger locator form.

And the Maldives has ditched all Covid tests for Brits, regardless of their vaccination status.

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