Catalonia has today announced new lockdown measures in light of new cases of Covid-19. Bars and restaurants are being closed tonight due to a rise in coronavirus case in the north east of Spain.
In response The Scottish Government has reimposed quarantine requirements on those entering Scotland from Spain from after midnight tonight. So from 26 July the requirement to enter quarantine is reinstated.
Spain will now be removed from the list of countries exempt from quarantine requirements due to an increased number of cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the last few days.
The decision, also made by the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland and Wales as well as the UK Government, has been made to reduce the risk of the transmission of the virus by those travelling from Spain and arriving in Scotland.
The public health measures will come into effect from midnight tonight and will mean those arriving in Scotland from Spain from 12.01am on 26 July 2020 will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf said:“The decision to exempt Spain earlier this week, was taken when the data showed there was an improvement in the spread of the virus. But clearly the latest data has given us cause for concern to overturn that decision.
“We appreciate that this will be disappointing. However, we have always been clear we are closely monitoring the pandemic situation in all countries and that we may require to remove a country from the list of places exempt from quarantine requirements should the virus show a resurgence.
“It is still active and it is still deadly. Supressing the virus, preventing it from being transmitted and protecting public health is our priority.”
The leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie said:“This makes the First Minister’s decision to lift the Spanish quarantine just last week look like a major misjudgment.
“The Spanish Government was warning about a rise in cases in the country yet the Scottish Government ignored the signs. I found the Scottish decision last week baffling given the clear warnings from the Spanish health ministry. I am not surprised that the decision has now been reversed.
“All those people who travelled to Spain on holiday last week believing they would be able to go to work when they got back will now be forced to quarantine for two weeks.
“I have supported the Scottish Government’s approach through much of the pandemic but my confidence in them has been shaken badly.”
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