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UK Quarantines Travelers From Spain in Sudden Blow to Europe's Revival

Reuters

   LONDON/BARCELONA - Britain abruptly imposed a two-week quarantine on
   all travelers arriving from Spain after a surge of coronavirus cases, a
   dramatic and sudden reversal Saturday to the opening of the European
   continent to tourism after months of lockdown.

   The quarantine requirement was due to take effect at midnight (2300 GMT
   on Saturday), making it impossible for travelers to avoid it by rushing
   home.

   The British Foreign Ministry also announced it was recommending against
   all but essential travel to mainland Spain, a move likely to prompt
   tour operators to cancel package holidays and trigger claims against
   insurers.

   Spain's Canary and Balearic Islands were not covered by the advice to
   avoid travel to the mainland, but holidaymakers returning to Britain
   from the islands will still be subject to quarantine on return.

   Britain's government urged employers to be "understanding" toward staff
   who are unable to return to their place of work for two weeks after
   they return from holiday.

   Norway, France

   The sudden British move followed steps this week by other European
   countries. On Friday, Norway said it would reimpose a 10-day quarantine
   requirement for people arriving from Spain beginning Saturday, while
   France advised people not to travel to Spain's northeastern region of
   Catalonia.

   But the total collapse of tourism from Britain would have far more
   impact. Britain accounted for more than 20% of the foreign visitors to
   Spain last year, the largest group by nationality. Tourism normally
   accounts for 12% of Spain's economy.

   Spain had been on a list of countries that the British government had
   said were safe for travelers to visit -- meaning tourists returning
   home would not have to go into quarantine.

   The announcement of such lists just weeks ago had allowed Europe's
   tourism sector to begin its revival after the near total shutdown
   prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

   Responding to the British measures, Spain said Saturday that it was a
   safe country with localized, isolated and controlled outbreaks of the
   coronavirus.

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