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TRAVEL NEWS

US issues ‘do not travel’ warning for Spain due to rising Delta cases

The United States on Monday warned against travel to Spain and other countries due to their rising Covid infection rates, while also maintaining restrictions on entry to the US from Spain and other Schengen nations.

US issues 'do not travel' warning for Spain due to rising Delta cases
American Airlines planes taxi at Miami International Airport. Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP

The United States has announced it would maintain restrictions on international travel into the country, sidestepping European pressure, pointing to a surge of cases of the Covid-19 Delta variant at home and abroad.

“We will maintain existing travel restrictions at this point,” White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters.

“The more transmissible Delta variant is spreading both here and around the world.”

The US ban currently bans non-US citizens who have recently visited the UK, 26 Schengen countries (including Spain), as well as Brazil, Ireland, India, Iran China and South Africa.

In its latest advisories, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommended avoiding travel to Spain and Portugal, two popular destinations for American tourists, due to growing cases of Covid-19.

The United States issued the same guidance for Cyprus and Kyrgyzstan, a week after also recommending against travel to Britain, the top international destination for US travelers after Mexico and Canada in 2019.

The ‘do not travel’ advisories by the US State Department follow the decision by the US’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to update the travel advisory for Spain and other countries to “Level Four: Very High”, which states Americans should avoid travel to these travel destinations. 

FIND OUT MORE: US reclassifies Spain again – What does it mean for American travellers?

Spain reopened to fully vaccinated American tourists in early June and then included the United States on its list of non-EU countries which are exempt from all Covid travel restrictions.

Covid cases have also been rising again in the United States, overwhelmingly due to the Delta variant among people who have not been
vaccinated despite the wide availability of doses.

Psaki said the White House projected that Covid cases would keep rising “in the weeks ahead.”

Asked how travel restrictions would help, Psaki said, “Yes, it is the dominant variant in the United States. That doesn’t mean that having more
people who have the Delta variant is the right step.”

The United States has restricted travel from the European Union, Britain, China and Iran for more than a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, later adding other countries including Brazil and India.

The European Union in June opened up to travelers from the United States, typically requiring proof of vaccination or negative tests, under pressure from tourism-dependent nations such as Greece, Spain and Italy that feared another bare season.

EU leaders have asked the United States to show reciprocity, and President Joe Biden on July 15th said he would have an answer on the issue “within the next several days” after appeals by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The United States makes widespread exceptions including for students, scholars, journalists and businesspeople, but European leaders have complained that the regulations inconvenience ordinary people and hinder transatlantic trade.

Top US government scientist Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that the United States is “going in the wrong direction” and repeated appeals for hesitant people to get vaccinated.

“It certainly is in retreat among the vaccinated,” Fauci told CNN.

“It’s like you have two kinds of America. You have the very vulnerable unvaccinated part and you have the really relatively protected vaccinated part.”

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TRAVEL NEWS

Spain’s ‘operación salida’ begins as millions set to travel over Easter break

The second phase of 'operación salida' kicks off on Wednesday, with Spain's Dirección General de Tráfico predicting that there could be up to 10 million journeys made as Spaniards go home or on holiday for Semana Santa celebrations.

Spain's 'operación salida' begins as millions set to travel over Easter break

The second part of Spain’s operación salida kicks off on Wednesday afternoon, with Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT) warning of heavy traffic on motorways and upwards of 10 million journeys made over the Easter period.

Since the first phase of operación salida, which began last Friday 22nd and lasted until midnight on Monday 25th, 13 people sadly lost their lives in traffic accidents, according to traffic data.

The second phase is one of Spain’s busiest travel periods of the year, and officially begins on the afternoon of Wednesday 27th March and will last until midnight on Monday April 1st, as it will be a holiday in several regions including the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, the Basque Country, La Rioja, Valencia, and Navarre.

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The main traffic flow will be from big cities to coastal areas, mountain tourist areas, second homes, and towns and cities with traditional Semana Santa processions.

Operación salida is the name Spaniards give to the ‘great exodus’ that occurs every summer, Christmas and Easter break as millions head to the coast or return home to see family over the holidays.

DGT travel advice

The DGT has made several travel recommendations during the Easter period, which you can find a full breakdown of on the website here.

READ ALSO: Semana Santa: What will the weather be like in Spain this Easter?

Wednesday 27th: Above average traffic expected in all regions of Spain in the afternoon as people set off, except in Catalonia and Valencia, where Maundy Thursday is not a public holiday.

Thursday 28th (Maundy Thursday): More traffic than usual expected at motorway exits of large towns and cities. In the evening, operación salida will also kick off in Catalonia and Valencia as people finish work, so heavy traffic is expected especially on access roads to the coast and tourist areas between 1pm-10pm.

Friday 29th (Good Friday): an increase in outbound travel will continue in all regions of Spain, notably day trips to areas close to big cities and places where Semana Santa processions are held.

Saturday 30th (Holy Saturday): The DGT expects Saturday to be the calmest travel day of the Easter break in terms of traffic, mostly because the majority of people will have already made their journeys.

Sunday 31st (Easter Sunday): Return journeys will begin in all regions of Spain except those where Monday is a public holiday: the Balearic Islands, Cantabria, Catalonia, Basque Country, La Rioja, Valencia and Navarre. Traffic will likely be especially heavy around cities.

Monday April 1st (Easter Monday): In the afternoon and evening return trips to the regions where it is a public holiday will begin, which may cause traffic problems on major motorways as well as on the access roads of bordering provinces. Return trips are also expected around the rest of Spain since school and university classes do not start until Tuesday.

Busiest motorways

According to the DGT, the motorways that will see the heaviest traffic will be at entrances and exits of large cities such as Madrid, specifically on the AP-6, A-1, A-2, A-3. A-4. A-5. A-6 and M-40.

Likewise, in Andalusia there could be heavy traffic on the AP-4, Ap-7, A-4, A-7, A-44, A-45, A-49, A-66, A-92, A-92M and MA-20.

Aragón: AP-2, the AP-68, A-2 and A-23/N-330.

Asturias: AP-66, A-88, A-64, A-66 and N-634.

Cantabria: A-8, A-67, S-10 and S-30.

Castilla La Mancha: AP-36, A-2. A-3. A-4, A-5. A-30, A-31, A-40, A-41 and A-42.

Castilla y León: AP-1. AP-6, A-1. A-6, A-52. A-62, A-66, A-67 and N-630.

Extremadura: A-5 and A-66.

Murcia: AP-7, A-7 and A-30.

Navarra: AP-15, AP-68, A-1. A-10, A-12. A-15, A-21, A-68, N-121 and N-121-A.

Basque Country: AP-8, the Ap-68, the A-1/N-I, A-8.

La Rioja: Ap-68, the N-111, N-232.

Galicia: AP-9, A-6, A-8, A-52, A-55 and N-550.

Balearic Islands: Ma-1, Ma-13, Ma-19 and Ma-20.

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