This archive report was first published on 12 May 2020.
Spain is taking a significant step to contain the spread of the coronavirus by imposing a two-week quarantine on all travellers arriving from abroad, starting from this Friday.
According to health ministry data, the daily death toll in Spain rose to 176 on Tuesday, a seven-week high, with a total of 26,920 deaths reported so far. However, the number of diagnosed cases rose by just 594 overnight to 228,030, the smallest daily rise in about two months.
Health emergency coordinator Fernando Simon emphasized the need to control the importation of cases from other countries, stating, “In many countries globally transmission will continue, the greatest risk will be the importation of cases. We would be back in the situation we had in February. We have to do prevention efforts until other countries reach the level of control that we have achieved.”
The quarantine will be enforced for all people coming to Spain between May 15 and at least May 24, when the state of emergency is due to end. The order can be extended jointly with possible state of emergency extensions.
Spain's tourism industry, which represents about 12% of the country's gross domestic product, is expected to be severely impacted by the quarantine. The industry attracts around 80 million tourists every year, with many visiting popular destinations such as Toledo and Granada.
Shares of companies related to the Spanish tourism industry plummeted on Tuesday morning, with International Consolidated Airlines, Melia Hotels, and Amadeus experiencing significant losses.
The measures apply to all travellers, including Spanish citizens returning to the country, with only certain exceptions, such as truck drivers, airplane and ship crews, cross-border workers, and health staff who are entering Spain to work.
