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NEWSLETTER

What are the rules on travelling within Spain this Christmas?

Each of Spain’s 17 regional authorities have imposed their own restrictions on travel within their territories over the Christmas period which means that the rules are different depending on where you live and where you want to go.

Published: 21 December 2020 11:45 CET
Updated: 23 December 2020 13:15 CET
What are the rules on travelling within Spain this Christmas?
Map produced by Ministry of Health

There are general rules across the regions that includes exemptions for travelling across regional borders for work or study purposes and you will always be allowed into a territory if returning to primary residence.

Some regions allow exceptions over Christmas for those who are going to visit family, others also include the term allegados, (which means close friends or loved ones) while Catalonia will also visits to second homes and hotels, others do not.

Here’s a breakdown of travel rules within each of Spain's autonomous communities.

Madrid

Spain’s capital is shutting its perimeters between December 23 and January 6 in line with Ministry of Health recommendations. However it will allow people to cross in and out of they are going to visit family or allegados (close friends).

 

Authorities have produced a justification form that travellers must fill in and show at any checkpoint or if stopped by police in order to enter or leave the Madrid Community. DOWNLOAD HERE

Catalonia

Authorities in Catalonia have restricted non-essential movement between comarcas (counties) at all times but exceptions are made not only for the usual work/study/care for vulnerable rules but also for those travelling to a second home or hotel or to return to the family home.

Those wishing to travel between comarcas must fill in a justification form and present it to police if stopped at a checkpoint. 

 

Valencia

The regional government in Valencia has brought in the strictest rules regarding movement within its territory and has closed off regional borders even to those wanting to visit family and close friends.

The only exception beyond those entering for justified work/study etc reasons are those returning to their primary residence.

 

Balearic Islands

Travellers are allowed to enter the Balearics only if they can present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival or they must have an appointment to do so on the island and quarantine while they wait for a negative result.

Andalusia

Restrictions on travelling between provinces in Andalusia has now been lifted but a perimeter closure of the entire region remains in force until at least December 28 when authorities will reassess.

This means you cannot visit Andalusia for tourism purposes but an exception is made under Spain’s Health Ministry guidelines that you can enter or leave if you are going to visit relatives or close friends.

 

 Canary Islands

 

The government of the Canary Islands have decided to ban non-essential travel to the island of Tenerife from Friday December 18th after a recent surge in infections.

Tourists however, both from mainland Spain and abroad, are exempt from the travel ban provided they have accommodation booked and can show a negative Covid-19 test that was taken within 72 hours prior to arrival.

There are no travel restrictions on other islands although all visitors must present a negative Covid-19 test at the airport and at their accomodation. READ MORE HERE

 

Aragon

A regional border closure is in place until January 12 plus travelling between the provinces is not allowed. An exception is made between the dates of December 23 and 26 and December 30 and January 2 when travelling is allowed for the purpose of meeting up with family only – Aragon has also chosen not to include the term allegados.

Castilla y Leon

The region will remain closed until at least January 10 with exceptions for travel to visit family (not close friends) between December 23rd and December 26th, December 30th and January 2nd and January 5th to January 6th.

Castilla-La Mancha

Regional borders will remain closed over the Christmas period but it will allow make an exception for visits to family and friends between December 23 and January 6 in accordance with Spain's Health Ministry guidelines.

Cantabria

The region has been closed since November 4 and will remain so over the Christmas period but it will allow make an exception for visits to family and close friends between December 23 and January 6 in accordance with Spain's Health Ministry guidelines.

Galicia

The region has no perimeter confinement around the territory but it will do so following national guidelines between December 23 and January 6 except for those visiting family (it did not include the term allegados).

Students are advised to get PCR tests before returning home to family units.

Extremadura

The region is one of the few in Spain which has not imposed a perimeter confinement around the region but it will close its regional borders following national guidelines between December 23 and January 6 except for those visiting family and close friends.

Murcia

The ban on travel in and out of Murcia will only be lifted between December 23rd to 26th and December 30th to January 2nd for those visiting family and close friends.

Basque Country

The ban on travel in and out of the Basque Country will only be lifted between December 23 to 26 and December 30 to January 2 for those visiting family and close friends. Those doing so will have to complete the justification form required by regional authorities HERE

Navarra

The ban on travel in and out of Navarra will only be lifted between December 23 to 26and December 30 to January 2 for those visiting family and close friends.

La Rioja

The ban on travel in and out of La Rioja will only be lifted between December 23 to 26and December 30 to January 2 for those visiting family and close friends.

 

Look at the interactive map produced by the Spanish Health Ministry for details on restrictions in individual regions.

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HEALTH

Respiratory infections soar in Spain over Christmas as hospitals struggle

Cases of viral respiratory infections such as flu, Covid and bronchitis have shot up over the past few weeks in Spain, putting an enormous strain on hospitals across the country and causing a severe lack of beds.

Published: 4 January 2024 12:33 CET
Respiratory infections soar in Spain over Christmas as hospitals struggle

Winter colds and flu are common, but this year Spain has seen a spike in cases of three different viruses – flu, Covid and bronchitis at the same time.

This comes after the festive and New Year period with lots of family gatherings and meetings with friends without much thought for social distancing days of the pandemic.

Rise in cases

According to health services, there are 35 percent more cases of these infections than a year ago, a percentage that is expected to continue rising until the third week of January when the epidemic peak will be reached after more gatherings for Three Kings’ Day on January 5th and 6th.

In a period of seven days, the rates of flu have gone from 532 to 908 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The cases of Covid have also grown from 12.6 percent to 13.6 percent.

The Health Minister, Monica García has published a message on social media reminding the public of the importance of getting vaccinated and maintaining prevention measures, such as ventilating rooms, washing hands and wearing a mask.

The head of the Emergency Department at the Reina Sofía University Hospital in Murcia, explained that the profile of these patients ranges “from young people with flu pathologies who go to the emergency room because health centres have delayed their appointments and people over 80 years old with pneumonia due to the flu who end up being admitted”.

Lack of hospital beds

According to the first vice president of the Spanish Society of Emergency Medicine (SEMES), Pascual Piñera, 10 of patients with these infections end up admitted to hospital overnight and one of the biggest problems staff are facing is the severe lack of beds, “They have nowhere to put the sick”, he explained.

The situation is the same all over the country. Red Workers union of the La Paz University Hospital in Madrid has reported that there are 105 patients pending admission and beds in the hallways are in double rows, “which cannot be evacuated if the patient worsens or there is a fire”.

Delays in primary health care 

Acute respiratory infections not only put a strain on hospitals and emergency rooms, but also primary care centres, causing delays and long waiting times for appointments. 

The spokesperson for the Federation of Associations for the Defence of Public Health (FADSP), Marciano Sánchez Bayle, explains that it is generating a “major traffic jam” in the healthcare system “where appointments are made for very late dates”.

Sánchez Bayle cites the case of the Community of Madrid, where he knows that appointments requested in December were not given until the end of January “which further clogs an already saturated system”. 

The need for greater vaccination rates 

Besides the festive period, many health professionals believe that the situation could be improved if more people were getting vaccinated, specifically against the flu. 

Flu vaccination in Spain is far below the WHO recommendations, hovering around 50 percent of the population at risk, when the goal is 75 percent. And the percentage is even lower in the case of children under five.

According to the Ministry of Health, the objectives for vaccination against flu and Covid-19 for the 2023-2024 season are to achieve or exceed vaccination coverage of 75 percent in older people and health workers, as well as 60 percent for pregnant women and people with at-risk conditions.

Amós García Rojas from Spain’s Vaccinology Association believes that after a few years without flu during the Covid pandemic, society has relaxed.

The vaccination campaign has not yet ended, so there’s still time to get yours before the end of the season. The campaign began on October 15th and ends on January 31st. 

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