The British
government has insisted that it was "absolutely necessary" to
reimpose quarantine restrictions on arrivals from Spain, after the change came
into effect with just a few hours notice.
Everyone
coming to the UK from Spain is now required to go into quarantine for 14 days
and the Foreign Office has advised against non-essential travel to the Spanish
mainland. Many thousands of travellers
have been affected by the decision.
Labour
described the way the decision was announced with little notice as “shambolic”.
The decision was
made after what the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab described as a "big
jump" in coronavirus cases in Spain.
The greatest concentration of infections is in the north-east of the
country. Popular tourist areas in southern Spain, the Canaries and the Balearic
Islands have lower infection rates.
The UK also
warned holidaymakers that it could impose similar restrictions on other
countries with little warning if necessary.
The decision is a
serious blow to Spain's tourism industry.
Its government says the new coronavirus outbreaks are being controlled
and the country is safe to visit. There
have been almost three hundred outbreaks in Spain since the easing of lockdown
there.
Mishal Husain
presents BBC News at Ten reporting from business correspondent Katy Austin, Guy
Hedgecoe in Madrid, Science Editor David Shukman and Political Correspondent
Vicki Young.
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