Spain holiday boost as Majorca and Ibiza scrap more Covid rules
BRITS have been given another holiday boost as the Balearic Islands ease more Covid restrictions.
The islands' government, which includes Menorca, Majorca and Ibiza, has ended most of the restrictions due to an improvement in Covid cases.
Most restrictions in restaurants and nightclubs have been eliminated, including the number of people who can sit together.
However, two main regulations still remain - masks will have to be worn inside restaurants and nightlife, both in cocktail bars and nightclubs, and smoking on terraces continues to be banned.
"As of today, the restrictions in force until now on cultural, sporting and other mass events will no longer be effective," said a government spokesman.
"The limitations on the celebration of popular festivals, religious celebrations, parades, dances and the like, or those that were also applied in more specific areas, such as those referring to dance academies, outdoor social activities, will also cease to be effective."
"The ban on smoking on public roads or in outdoor spaces for public use is also maintained when maintaining a minimum distance of two metres from other people cannot be guaranteed. You also can't smoke when you're on the move."
"Likewise, the following individual and collective protection measures must continue to be adopted:
- Vaccination against COVID-19.
- Frequent hand hygiene.
- Hygiene if you have respiratory symptoms (avoid coughing directly into the air, cover your mouth with the inside of your forearm in these cases, and avoid touching your face, nose, and eyes).
- Interpersonal physical safety distance.
- The use of a mask indoors and when interpersonal distance cannot be maintained.
- Preference for outdoor spaces to carry out activities.
- Correct ventilation of closed spaces and cleaning and disinfection of surfaces."
The Balearic government says the islands are now in a situation of rapid and continuous decline in the cumulative incidence (AI) at 14 days.
While on January 26 the AI14 was 3,249 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, on February 23 the AI14 had dropped to 601.01 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
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A spokesperson added: "Thus, and in the islands as a whole, the current incidence figures have been reduced to 20 per decent of what they were now a month ago, with even more pronounced reductions such as that of Ibiza, where the incidence as of February 23 represents less 10 per cent of that presented by the island as of January 26, 2022."
Hospital occupancy has dropped from 12.61 per cent to 6.5 per cent, while ICY occupancy dropped from 26.39 per cent to 13.78 per cent.
Spain has already scrapped more Covid restrictions for tourists.
To enter Spain, any non-EU travellers - which includes the UK - only need to have vaccines approved by WHO to enter Spain.
They previously had to be EU approved, which included the Pfizer jabs as well as Moderna, AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson and Novavax.
Brits still need to be vaccinated to enter Spain, as the country has banned any arrivals who are yet to have both jabs.
Arrivals also need to have a Spanish passenger form filled, which is free via the government website although some sites are charging as much as €60.
Spain has also scrapped its strict Covid rule banning unvaccinated teens aged between 12 and 17.
