COSTA DEL WOE
Spain quarantine U-turn was sparked by 10 Brits testing positive for coronavirus on their return
TEN Brits who tested positive for coronavirus after returning from Spain sparked the new quarantine rule that has caused chaos for millions.
Brits holiday plans were thrown into chaos after an effective travel ban was slapped on Spain by Boris Johnson over the weekend, meaning Brits had to quarantine for 14-days on their return - although it is believed this will be cut to 10.
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The shock quarantine announcement was made after England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty addressed Cabinet's "Covid-O" committee and called for the country to be added to the quarantine list.
The "clincher" that convinced senior ministers to introduce the quarantine was when they were told that 10 Brits had tested positive for the bug since July 1 after visiting Spain.
Prof Whitty said the number was "statistically significant" and that Covid-19 cases in Spain had jumped by 75 per cent.
"It was a small number but it was statistically significant enough to cause concern," a source who was briefed on the meeting told the .
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The new rule comes as health officials in Germany today admitted they are "very worried" about a deadly new spike in coronavirus cases.
According to the Robert Koch Institute - the state agency in charge of disease control - Germany has reported 633 new infections and four deaths in just 24 hours.
Germany has advised against all tourist travel to high-risk regions of Spain.
On July 25, the UK government announced that people travelling from Spain from July 26 will have to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.
Before, the UK had allowed Brits to travel to the holiday hotspot without needing to self-quarantine on return.
After a spike in coronavirus cases in Spain, holidaymakers in the country - including island hotspots like Majorca and Ibiza - will now be forced to quarantine for two weeks upon returning home to the UK.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office initially warned against "all but essential travel"; to mainland Spain only.
But in an update on July 27, the FCO warned Brits to not travel to the Canary Islands or Balearic Islands unless it is necessary.
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This includes Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Ibiza and Majorca with the the new advice coming into effect without prior warning to travellers.
There could be relief in sight for frustrated travellers who had their holidays thrown into chaos as the two week self-isolation is reportedly set to be cut by several days.
It is believed new plans are being finalised to lessen the sting of the restrictions now in place.
The arrivals from high-risk countries could be tested eight days after landing for coronavirus, and if the results are negative they would be allowed to leave self-isolation.
It would potentially keep Brits returning from holiday in quarantine for just one week.
The 14-day quarantine rule comes months after fears of "super-spreaders" returning from ski holidays in Europe were first raised.
Businessman Steve Walsh, 53, accidentally infected two medics at his GP's in Brighton and at least four people he went skiing with in the French Alps in January. He had caught the bug at a business conference in Singapore.
In February, a dad-of-two was diagnosed with coronavirus after he took his family skiing in Italy.
After returning home to Swansea, South Wales, he is believed to have been out drinking and socialising with friends and family before he was diagnosed.
There are concerns that a devastating second wave of coronavirus cases could hit the UK during winter.
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Spain has already admitted that a second wave may be underway, while experts have warned of a spike in Britain as the temperature drops.
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An increase in cases of the deadly bug would then mean a second lockdown just as the economy begins to restart.
A senior member of The Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies said the virus is believed to "like" 4C - possibly explaining why it spread so quickly in February and March in the UK.
Minister Simon Clarke says govt message to Brits is not 'Don't go abroad' and rejects claim Spain quarantine decision was over-reaction
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