Spain has lifted its state of emergency, allowing it to
reopen its borders to visitors from most of Europe without quarantine measures.
The relaxation of restrictions was originally planned to go
ahead on 1 July, but the move was brought forward as cases continue to fall in
the country and internal lockdown measures ease. The new rules to enter without
quarantine will even apply to British travellers despite the UK imposing a
14-day self-isolation period on international arrivals, with Spanish foreign
minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya telling the BBC the decision was made “out of
respect for the 400,000 British citizens who have second residences in Spain”.
However, strict social distancing guidelines are still in
place, with people required to stay 1.5 metres apart in public, wear masks in
shops and on public transport and practice good hand hygiene.
People arriving into the country will have their temperature
taken, must fill out a declaration stating whether they have had coronavirus
and will be required to leave contact details for tracing purposes.
Spain’s borders are now open to the rest of the EU and Schengen
zone countries outside the EU, but it will keep its land border with Portugal
closed until 1 July at the request of the Portuguese government.