Date Published: 18/03/2020
ARCHIVED - Spanish government closes hotels,campsites and caravan parks
ARCHIVED ARTICLE Information from the Foreign Office
The Spanish government has now ordered that hotels and short-stay accommodation (such as short-stay campsites or caravan parks) must close by Tuesday 24th March. British travellers who are currently in Spain and who wish to return to the UK are advised to make travel plans to do so as soon as possible.
If you’re currently on holiday in Spain, check with your tour operator or accommodation provider for further information. If you’re travelling and wish to return to the UK, contact your tour operator, checking the website of their airlines or ferry companies for further advice. The Spanish authorities may ask British travellers to move hotels before 24th March and have underlined that no-one will be left without accommodation.
These measures do not apply to long term accommodation, such as long-stay campsites, as long as clients can cater for themselves, in their own spaces (ie that clients do not rely on communal facilities, such as shower blocks, which will be required to close).
From Tuesday 17th March until the end of the State of Emergency, land borders are closed for entry to Spain, with the following exceptions: Spanish nationals, Spain residents, frontier workers and those able to prove that they need to enter for essential reasons.
The land borders remain open for those leaving Spain. British nationals can still drive through France to return to the UK, but they will need to complete an ‘attestation’ (declaration) specifying the reason for being outside.
If you’re planning to use this route, check the latest FCO travel advice for France ahead of your journey. At present, air and maritime borders remain open, but many airlines and ferry companies are operating revised or reduced services.
Follow Murcia Today on Facebook to keep up to date with all the latest updates locally for the Region of Murcia and the main information for the rest of Spain: https://www.facebook.com/MurciaToday/. Please note, Facebook is limiting the number of posts we are able to make in local groups, and the sheer volume of incoming information is overwhelming, so all updates and cancellations of events etc in the Murcia region will be posted on this main page and may not be shared into many local groups.
PLEASE help to support the flow and sharing of information by following this page and sharing the information into groups to which you have access.
What to do if you are in the Region of Murcia and believe you may have contracted the virus
The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.
The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to just one per patient.
Sensible precautions
The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:
- Wash hands frequently with either soap and water or a sanitiser gel
- Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
- If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
- AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
- AVOID close contact with people who are unwell
- Don´t panic!