03
mar-2021
The original list of countries affected by the quarantine measures has been extended following the publication in the BOE of the new Order of the Ministry of Health 181/2021, of March 2 (https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2021/03/03/pdfs/BOE-A-2021-3310.pdf).
According to the government, the measure aims to control the spread of the so-called Brazilian and South African strains of COVID19, so in addition to these South American countries, the measure will also be imposed on travelers from eight other African countries traveling to Spain from any airport located in the Republic of South Africa, Republic of Botswana, Republic of Comoros, Republic of Ghana, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Mozambique, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of Zambia or Republic of Zimbabwe. The measure will affect any flight from these countries, with or without intermediate stops, to any Spanish airport.
A forced isolation is established for all these travelers from the moment of their arrival in Spain, which will be maintained for at least 10 days or during their entire stay if it is shorter than this period. This isolation could end earlier if from the seventh day after arrival, the person undergoes a diagnostic test of acute infection of RT-PCR type or other based on equivalent molecular techniques, as well as an antigen test with a minimum performance ≥ 90 % sensitivity and ≥ 97 % specificity, and these yield negative results.
The Order states that persons must remain confined to a home or contracted accommodation, limiting their movements only to the acquisition of food, pharmaceutical products or basic necessities, attendance at health centers, services and establishments and to causes of force majeure or situation of need. Visits by third parties are also limited while in isolation.
Travelers must be permanently contactable and the Spanish authorities may at any time carry out the appropriate checks on compliance with the quarantine. In the event of any suspicion of a possible coronavirus infection, they should contact the health services through the numbers provided by the autonomous communities, indicating that they are in quarantine.
The Order, which will be in force at least until March 15, establishes that travel agencies, tour operators and passenger transport companies must inform their users of these measures.
