Covid: 14-day quarantine for Spain to NI travellers
- Published
The rule will take effect from midnight on Saturday in Northern Ireland
Travellers coming into Northern Ireland from Spain and its islands will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine.
The Department of Health said the decision was taken following medical and scientific advice and Health Minister Robin Swann said the decision "was not taken lightly."
There has been a recent significant surge in Covid-19 cases in Spain.
The measure will come into effect in Northern Ireland from midnight on Saturday.
There has been a recent surge in Covid-19 cases in Spain
Spain has warned a second wave could be imminent as cities including Madrid and Barcelona have seen cases surge.
The government of Catalonia has also said all nightclubs and late-night bars in the region are to close for the next two weeks due to a spike in infections.
The Spanish health ministry reported more than 900 new cases of the virus on Friday.
"I have spoken with my counterparts across the UK today and we agree that the recent upsurge in new positive cases in different parts of Spain are a cause for concern," Mr Swann said.
"As of midnight tonight, anyone returning or visiting Northern Ireland from Spain, including its islands will be required to quarantine for 14 days.
"I will continue to monitor the situation in Spain and other countries and make the changes to the regulations when necessary."
Robin Swann said he had consulted with his UK counterparts
The quarantine measures will apply to those returning from mainland Spain, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands, such as Palma and Ibiza. However, Foreign Office advice against non-essential travel, which has ramifications for travel insurance, only applies to mainland Spain.
The Airport Operators Association said the new measures will "further damage what is already a fragile restart of the aviation sector which continues to face the biggest challenge in its history".
Budget airline EasyJet said it was "disappointed" and would operate a full schedule in the coming days.
"Customers who no longer wish to travel can transfer their flights without a change fee or receive a voucher for the value of the booking," the company said in a statement.
Easyjet said its customers could transfer their flights
The SDLP's health spokesperson Colin McGrath said the announcement would create difficulties for some of those due to return from Spain in the coming days.
"This will be a shock to people returning from Spain in the coming days as they will now have to make arrangements regarding work and other domestic matters and prepare for 14 days of isolation," he said.
"I hope that testing will be made available quickly for these people so a quick result will enable them to return to work sooner.
"I feel especially for families with children who may now have to explain why they cannot travel. "