At a press conference following Tuesday's cabinet meeting, Spain's finance minister and government spokesperson, offered a "clear message of confidence" in Spanish tourism, insisting that Spain is a "safe destination".
Spain, María Jesús Montero observed, is "incomparable" in terms of culture, heritage, gastronomy and safety. This safety as a destination has been "reinforced in order to cope with the virus and its outbreaks". People who regularly visit Spain, she added, will know that one of the country's main strength as a tourism destination is the "quality of the public health system".
Over the past months, she explained, coordination and joint action protocols have been established between the national ministry of health and the regional administrations. Agreed by the Inter-Regional Health Council, these protocols are for prevention, control and an early response plan.
The health minister, Salvador Illa, said that the pandemic in Spain is in a "control scenario", despite the 361 active outbreaks which have been reported in different parts of the country, mainly Aragon and Catalonia. Seventy per cent of these outbreaks have "fewer than ten associated cases". Most have arisen because of family gatherings, work activities such as fruit picking, and nightlife. He viewed as "positive" the measures adopted by regional governments to limit nightlife. "In our opinion, they are the correct measures."
Illa dismissed the idea that there is a second wave on a general level. "In my opinion and based on the information I have received, there is not a second general wave. There are outbreaks, and areas with the highest transmissions are highly localised."
Some 64% of new positives are limited to Aragon and Catalonia. Illa added that he expects the "most worrying outbreaks in Barcelona and Zaragoza" to be brought under control in the coming weeks. The public, he stressed, must "strictly follow" the advice of health authorities regarding social distancing and the use of masks.
The Spanish and regional governments "are taking the measures that have to be taken in keeping the virus under control". The means available to regional governments, Illa emphasised, "are sufficient" to maintain this control.
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What is it with all this "safe" nonsense? We can lock down all we want, drive all tourists into the sea and let them drown. This virus is not going away, nor will it make any difference, except postponing things, which was the issue with the whole lock down. Yes, we spared the health services, which was a viable reason, but to think that we were winning the "war on corona" as our beloved politicians so heroically announced, was total BS and now it has been proven it is. We cannot avoid his virus. It is a simple as that, as there is no vaccin. Only a tiny amount of people will die of it or at least the virus will push them over the edge. If it is not this virus, it may be some flu or other things anyway. 70-80% of us will contract corona at some stage. Get used to that, but meanwhile wash your hands, keep some distance and stay home if you cough and sneez.
Unfortunately it seems the Spanish have been caught napping. Spain is not that safe but at the moment mallorca is. But for how long? There are TEN flights arriving every day at Palma from Barcelona, which is suffering a big spike in infections. Why haven’t the Spanish imposed travel restrictions to and from these higher risk areas? The British decision could be justified by that fact alone. Spain has to take responsibility and not just whinge that it's unfair, without doing more to get on top of outbreaks.
I am missing my annual trips to Majorca as much as the rest and even though Spain tells me it's a safe country to visit how long do you think that will last with people flying in from all over the world, it's far too early to open borders to tourism anywhere. And just to add who really wants to walk around in Spanish temperatures with a mask on. Sorry it's just not appealing at the minute.
Big Question. Is travel restricted from these areas to other parts of Spain, like here in Mallorca?. Because I have seen and heard nothing about that and flights are arriving regularly in Palma from Barcelona. It has given the British an easy excuse to apply the quarantine to cover all Spain. the Spanish Govt need to step up and be honest about it. Have they been caught napping? And to be caught out by the “crap as you can be Uk govt” is embarrassing. Some answers needed.