Spain is now a risk area – what that means for travelers

Spain is now a risk area. For those returning from vacation, this means that you need proof of vaccination, proof of recovery or a negative rapid test when you return home. A quarantine is not planned, as this is not planned within the EU.

But … it could get worse. The 7-day incidence in Spain is 190. If the numbers do not decrease, Spain could be declared a high risk area. That would be fatal – for Spanish tourism and for German tourists in the country who are not vaccinated.

What does risk area mean?

The Robert Koch Institute has been looking at the infection situation in Spain with concern for weeks. The number of new infections is going through the roof, especially among young people. Because the number of new infections in the entire country is continuously increasing and is at 190 per 100,000 residents, Spain is now officially a “simple risk area”.

Rather, it is an indirect warning mechanism that is now taking effect.

What does that mean for returnees?

With immediate effect, unvaccinated holidaymakers must present a negative antigen rapid test or PCR test (72 hours) from all departure airports in the country when they enter Germany. Vaccinated persons, in turn, have to present their digital or written evidence. The same applies to those who have recovered. Here the PCR test is sufficient, from which a positive result is obtained. The document must not be older than six months.

What is new, however, is that spontaneous rapid tests can also take place upon landing in Germany.

How bad is the situation in Spain?

As reported by the Spanish Ministry of Health (as of July 8), the 7-day incidence in the individual regions was as follows:

  • Andalusia 121.3 (increasing sharply)
  • Aragon 197.5 (increasing)
  • Asturias 212.7 (increasing sharply)
  • Balearic Islands 141.3 (increasing)
  • Basque Country 139.1 (increasing)
  • Extremadura 142 (increasing)
  • Galicia 77
  • Canaries 112.5
  • Cantabria 255.4 (increasing rapidly)
  • Castile-La Mancha 44.7 (increasing)
  • Castile and León 331.2 (increasing rapidly)
  • Catalonia 390.4 (sinking)
  • La Rioja 133.5 (increasing)
  • Madrid (Region) 100.3 (increasing)
  • Murcia (Region) 73.5 (increasing)
  • Navarre 326.2 (increasing sharply)
  • Valencia (Region) 155.7 (falling)

In one sentence: The situation in Spain is critical.

What does that mean for travelers who are now flying to Spain?

The same applies here: negative rapid test for unvaccinated persons (or PCR). Vaccination and recovery certificates are also valid. Otherwise, travelers must also adhere to the guidelines on site.

But … those who have not been vaccinated should consider: If the numbers continue to rise, quarantine is mandatory when they return.

Does that also apply to children?

Children from the age of 12 who have not been proven to have corona (recovery) or who have not been vaccinated must have the PCR test.

Is cross vaccination accepted?

Cross vaccinations, or mix-and-match vaccines, consist of a vector and an mRNA vaccine. As a rule, those entitled to vaccination receive Astrazeneca at the beginning and later either vaccine preparations from Biontech or Moderna.

Because such cross vaccinations are carried out by the Spanish health authorities, they are also recognized in Spain. Travelers are therefore considered “fully vaccinated” 14 days after the second vaccination. Vaccines from Pfizer-Biontech, Moderna, Astra-Zeneca, Jansen / Johnson & Johnson, Sinovac and Sinopharm are currently recognized in Spain.

What is changing now – what happens afterwards?

Travelers should definitely be careful and vigilant now.

If the incidence in Spain continues to rise, the holiday country could be recognized as a “high risk area”. That would mean that unvaccinated people would have to be quarantined for ten days on their return journey. At least the European Union has agreed on this regulation. The mandatory isolation can be reduced to five days with a negative rapid test.

The Foreign Office would then issue a travel warning.

Should I cancel my planned trip?

There is no reason to cancel the planned trip. In addition, there is no explicit right to cancel for risk areas. Reason? Officials do not warn against traveling to Spain.

FOCUS Online says: Keep calm, don’t let this drive you crazy. At the airport, however, there can now be longer waiting times because individual documents have to be checked.

If you feel unsure, wait to cancel. Spain currently has an incidence of just under 190, just barely past the 200 mark. As soon as Spain is above 200 and the number is broken for seven days, a travel warning threatens. Consumers could then cancel.

Should I take out insurance when booking?

Due to the dynamic location, it is advisable to take out travel insurance. We generally advise against making bookings in high-risk areas, as the free cancellation right also expires here. Lawyer and consumer expert Roosbeh Karimi from GetRight advises in an interview with FOCUS Online to conclude a Travel cancellation insurance.

Karimi explains that providers differentiate between an annual policy that covers a specific amount per year and individual policies that are booked for a specific trip. Ideally, travelers should check whether the insurance is “suitable for pandemics” when booking and before taking out the policy. Anyone who has taken out outdated travel cancellation insurance should “update” the annual tariffs accordingly in order to also be able to make use of pandemic protection.

The Covid travel protection is particularly helpful when, for example, an airline refuses to board a passenger who has a fever and a hotelier or vacation rental owner denies entry to a guest with symptoms. Incidentally, this can also affect fully vaccinated and convalescent people, not just corona infected people.

Also one private foreign health insurance is worth it on vacation, recommends Sandra Klug from the Hamburg consumer center, for example. According to her, such a policy costs around ten euros a year.

The advantage of foreign health insurance: With it, vacationers do not have to pay the treatment costs themselves in the event of an emergency. In addition, the provider usually pays for a medically necessary return transport to Germany – which the statutory health insurance companies usually do not do.

In the video: