Coronavirus Chronology

Social distancing in Andalucia  © Michelle Chaplow
Social distancing in Andalucia

Chronology of the Coronavirus pandemic in Spain

The lockdown in Wahun China began on 16 January 2020. The peak in China was 4th February although there was a later spike. Cases had diminished in China by 9th March 2020 and restrictions began to be lifted.

10-03-2020 Tuesday
We received an email from one of our readers, Cheryl Jessop asking if Semana Santa would still go ahead. We replied "As far as we know it is still planned to go ahead. Of course it will depend on events over the next month, but we do not hear any talk of cancellations in local media or social media." We had received several similar emails of the previous week so set up a Coronavirus page to advise tourists of the normality in Andalucia. Things changed very fast over the next few days.

11-03-2020 Wednesday
The Moroccan government ordered the suspension of all passenger ferry from Andalucia to Morocco and all flights from Spain from 13-03-2020. This was put into effect immediately between Algeciras and Tarifa to Tánger town and Tánger Med.  Ferries to Ceuta and Melilla continued but the Moroccan border was closed except for special  openings to allow tourist to cross back into Spain.

11-03-2020 Wednesday
Flights between Spain and Italy were suspended

12-03-2020 Thursday
It is was announced that Kindergartens, Schools, Colleges and Universities in all Andalucia would be closed on from Monday 16th March by order of the Andalucia Health Service (SAS).

12-03-2020 Thursday
Andalucia the regional government announced that the Alhambra de Granada, Picasso Malaga, Bellas Artes Sevilla, Medinat al-Zahra in Córdoba, Real Alcázar in Sevilla and all the 27 museums and monuments managed by the Junta de Andalucia were closed from immediate effect. The closure also applied to the theatres and libraries of the Junta de Andalucia (regional government) and to concerts or any cultural event that they had programmed. Sierra Nevada closed for the rest of the season. The Parador chain of hotels closed and like some other hotel chains such as Room Mates have offered use of hotels as hospitals if needed.  Many other hotels have closed in response to all the cancellations.

12-03-2020 Thursday
Pedro Sanchez issues a state of Alarm, although no details provided. 

13-03-2020 Friday
In Andalucia on Friday 13-03-2020 the regional government issued an order to close all the bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, parks, and beaches in Andalucia. Only food shops, pharmacies, medical centres, vets, kiosks were allowed to be open.

14-03-2020 Saturday
At a meeting in Seville on Saturday morning the President of the Semana Santa (Holy Week) (5th to 11th April 2020) 'brotherhoods' and the Archbishop asked the Mayor to cancel the Semana Santa processions. The mayor agreed and later issued an official declaration. Saturday afternoon Jerez de la Frontera, Cordoba, Granada, El Puerto de Santa María and Cadiz also cancelled their Semana Santa processions. The decree restricting movement in Spain issued that evening effectively cancels Semana Santa processions in 2020.

14-03-2020 Saturday
Pedro Sanchez, presidente (Prime Minister) of the National Government issued a decree on television in the evening, in effect stopping all leisure activity. It was published in the Boletín Oficial del Estado (BOE) late that evening. Rumours that Spanish air space was to be closed were untrue, however air travel was included in the decree limiting flights to 50% from 17-04-2020.

15-03-2020 Sunday
Feria de Sevilla (Spring Fair) the Mayor of Seville, Juan Espadas announced that the Seville Spring Fair would be postponed until September 2020. No exact dates were given but it will probably be the second fortnight in September 2020. It is the first time that it has not taken place in the Spring since the fair was founded in 1847. It had been due to take place from 26 April to 2nd May 2020. The Mayor had always stated it would go ahead but had conceded two days ago that if it had to be suspended, the first option would be a postponement.

18-03-2020 Wednesday
Spain closed its land borders into France and Portugal at midnight and also sea ports to inbound travellers. Airports would cease to admit international passengers on the 22-04-2020.

21-03-2020 Saturday
Pedro Sanchez, President of the Government of Spain spoke to the nation at 21.00, actually 20 mins late. He spoke for two hrs including Q&A and with nothing of substance was said. Journalist´s questions were selected and read out by the chief of communications.

22-03-2020 Sunday
The state of Alarm and associated lockdown on travel and leisure in Spain was extended until midnight 11th April 2020. This was announced by the Government following a call with the regional Presidents. The Andalucian government swiftly announced that it had supported the decision

22-03-2020 Sunday
Since midnight the only people who are now allowed entry into Spain are Spanish nationals, long term residents returning home, cross border workers, health care professionals, freight transport drivers, diplomats, or those on imperative family duty. This does not apply to the land borders of Andorra and Gibraltar. Source BOE    Leaving Spain by land is not restricted. 

23-03-2020 Monday
Gibraltar in a separate initiative ordered a lockdown from midnight.

24-03-2020 Tuesday
The extension to the Sate of Alarm and renewed lockdown was ratified by Congress.

Testing has increased in Andalucia and 11 drive-through centres have been set up in the cities where mouth swabs are taken quickly and efficiently. These are still limited to medical and security personnel.

One of this issues of the current situation is the lack of detailed information being published by the national and regional authorities. The national government give a daily update with figures at regional level, the region followed up with info at provincial level. The Andalucia health department government used to  report each case; sex, age, hospital or home province of the patient. 

 Matthew Bennett in Madrid has built up a 120.000 Twitter following by including info, mainly public domain but hidden away, that the mainstream media tends to avoid. He tweeted “I've been trying to get more information about the Coronavirus situation in Spain out of the health ministries for 4 weeks. People, locked down in their homes, with a possible mortal danger outside, want to know where the clusters are and what's going on, and that is normal.” By the 28-03-2020 Matthew noticed that  "The issue of Coronavirus data in Spain still depends on the region, even for the ones trying to do something. Few are doing so but of those who are, each region is doing it in its own way with different pages, formats and lists of data." He tweeted links to geo data from Catalunia, Basque Country, Castilla y Leon, Canary Islands, and Murcia. Andalucia regional government only published data for the 8 provinces and extended this to the health districts where the data comes from on 10-04-2020.

In Marbella thanks to Maria José Cañete, President of Helicopteros Sanitarios we know “27 people who tested positive for coronavirus are now hospitalized in Marbella hospitals and we sincerely hope that they recover soon." Maria Jose also mentions that they have some Coronavirus tests available. (Source

26-03-2020 Thursday
It was expected that all hotels, tourist apartments and campsites in Spain would be closed on Thursday 26 March however the BOE published a list of hotels and short-stay accommodation that would remain open during the state of emergency, not for tourism but only to accommodate workers or other acting within the existing lockdown rules. There are about 30 named in Andalucia. More>  and an appendix says any hotel can stay open within the lockdown rules.  This had followed confusion during the previous week when the British Foreign Office advise to travellers mentioned Spanish hotels would close on the 24th. The following day a Spanish Government spokesman denied the story and said tourist were welcome to stay for the duration of their bookings.  

28-03-2020 Saturday
Spanish President of the Government, Pedro Sanchez held his third lengthy Saturday night TV speech to the country on 28-03-2020.  As from Monday all non essential workers will be required to stay at home until Thursday 9th April. They will be paid and will have to make up the hours in the future. Many office workers are already working from home and this will continue. Mr Sanchez defined essential as those the defined in the (14-03-2020) decree. There was further discussion on this definition.  The measure was clearly directed at construction and non essential manufacturing industry. The sudden announcement was met with criticism for lack of time allowed for preparation. 

29-03-2020 Sunday
When BOE was published at midnight it did say the non-essential workers could travel to their work place on the Monday to ensure security (of building sites), collect personal tools and personal belongings and files need to work from home.

We are told a Task Force headed by Theresa Ribera,  Minister for ecological (energy and climate change) transition since June 2018 and Fourth Deputy prime minister since Jan 2020). The task force is meeting on a very discreet basis group includes unnamed experts and heads of different government divisions and Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya providing information about measures being taken in other countries. It also includes José Luis Escrivá, the social security minister and economist. It was announced on 14-04-20 by Arancha that a representatives from each of Spain's 17 regions has joined the taskforce. Presumably the first practical task of the group was to recommend to the Prime Minister that Under 14s (accompanied) be allowed a one hour exercise break. Since the detailed rules of that changes several times up to midnight the night before it underlines the complexity of the task. As the regions such as Andalucia started grabbing headlines revealing their plans, Pedro Sanchez took the initiative and on Saturday 24-04-202 mentioned he would be announcing the de-escalation plan next Tuesday. Hopefully Theresa Ribera was not taken by surprise. Duly on the evening of Tuesday 28-04-2020 the "Plan for the Transition to a new Normality"  was revealed: four stages over 8 weeks on a province by province basis. Tourist arrivals are not mentioned. 

10-04-2020 Friday
Friday 10th was Good Friday easter bank holiday and Thursday 9th was a regional holiday in Andalucia. Television station replayed Semana Santa processions from  previous years.  

11-04-2020 Saturday
Spanish President of the Government (Prime Minister), Pedro Sanchez announced on his regular televised press conference on Saturday evening that on essential workers could return to work as long as their employers provided them with gloves and face masks and were able to respect social distances of 2m. Face masks would be given out at metro stations and on public transport from Monday morning.  

18-04-2020  Saturday
Spanish President of the Government (Prime Minister), Pedro Sanchez announced on his regular televised press conference on Saturday evening that children up to 12 will be aloud out to exercise from the following Sunday.

There was confusion and clarification during the week as to exactly which children would be allowed out and what they could do. Sanidad, the Ministry of Health in Madrid said children under 14 years, can accompany their parents or adult sibling on walks to supermarkets, banks, and pharmacies. The rational was that these were the already permitted journeys. When so many  people pointed out that a walk in the park would be safer than a trip to the supermarket, this was later extended to ‘short walks' within one block of the house. This first step made it clear that running, cycling, skating, nor ball-games were not permitted, later this was modified to only apply between the hours of 09:00 and 21:00 hrs for duration of one hour, keeping within 1km radius of the family home. In the end, ball, toys, cycles were permitted but childrens playgrounds were out of bounds and parks would not generally open. The Health Ministry also clarified that 14-17 year olds were permitted to visit supermarkets, chemists and banks in the same way that adults do.

Marbella was the first town hall to announce the opening its beaches on Sunday 26-04-2020 so that residents can use the beaches for walks with children. Bathing, sunbathing, ball games will continue to be prohibited. The Local Police and Protection Civil monitored the situation to enforce social distancing.  The 37 km of Marbella beaches were closed on 14th March and they are being reopened on the recommendations of the Regional Government. Beach rules are complex in normal times as National, regional and local authority divide responsibilities.  The rationale is that as the seafront promenade will be popular with parents and children the beach will offer more space to avoid the crowds. Shortly after Mijas made a similar announcement and other seaside town in Andalucia were expected to make similar announcements. Late on Saturday Malaga city anounced the same. 

21-04-2020 Tuesday
Manuel Moreno, the President of the Junta de Andalucia announced his plan on Tuesday to open the beaches this summer with limits on numbers. He said in a TV interview that this could be accomplished with local police supervising. Families would need to maintain distancing rules and once a beach reached a limit, no more people would be allowed on the beach. He said that he had already told Pedro Sanchez, that the towns and ‘comarcas' of Andalucia could be the first to be released from the lockdown since the Coronavirus confirmed cases and deaths, especially in Huelva and Almeria province were less than other parts of Spain.

23-04-2020 Thursday
Andalucia regional minister for Tourism, Juan Marín, "We are working on a plan that it will be reasonable to open certain activity in May," he said, adding that hotels could open in June. Tourism ministers tend to talk to the industry and not to tourists;  Marin is no exception, Regional ministry's strategy includes measures that are estimated to have a positive impact of 243 million euros on the tourism sector and 740 million euros on Andalucía's economy as a whole.  The regional authority's recovery strategy also includes a 2.25-million-euro spend on tourism promotion for Andalucía.

24-04-2020 Friday
In Seville the Mayor announced that the plan to hold the 2020 Spring Fair (Feria de Abril) in September has now been abandoned. One of the main considerations was cost since 2m euro of the budget had already been spent. Stall holders and caseta holders will be refunded their fees. Workman began to dismantle the fairground.

25-04-2020 Saturday
Spanish President of the Government (Prime Minister), Pedro Sanchez announced on his regular televised press conference on Saturday evening  that everyone will be allowed to go out for exercise and for walks starting on May 2 if coronavirus figures go down. The de-escalation will occur at different speeds depending on the situation in each region. The prime minister added that the central government will be responsible for the de-escalation plan, despite complaints from regional leaders, a reference to Andalucia (see 21-04-2020)

At Midnight in Seville when the feria would have started, many Sevillanos dressed in Feria suits and sang and danced on their balconies. Lights in apartment blocks were turned on at midnight to represent the 'alumbrado', the turning on of the feria lights.

26-04-2020 Sunday
First truly visible signs of some relaxation of lockdown with children and parents out walking and cycling on this sunny morning. 

26-04-2020 Sunday
Manual Moreno, President of the Junta de Andalucia announced that he was sending the Andalucia de-escalation plan to Pedro Sanchez the Prime Minister in Madrid. It included opening of hairdressing and beauty salons on 11-05-2020 and restaurants and bars on 25-05-2020, as long as they follow strict containment rules, funerals without overnight vigils from 18-05-2020 and religious services from 02-05-2020. On de-confinement he said little "gradual, asymmetric and controlled" This was well received in local media as though it was a fact rather than a suggestion. The main justification is based on Andalucia’s favourable position relative to other regions. For two weeks the ‘r’ (average contagion rate) has been less than 1 and Andalucia is third in list of cases per 100.000 populations. [Actually 4th since last Thursday behind Murcia, Canarias, Extremadura and not counting Ceuta and Melilla]. Andalucia has enough availability of beds in ICUs. He also repeated his wish for the beaches to open in the summer (with squares separating sunbeds or towels) and that the provinces of Huelva and Almeria are particularly well placed to be in the first phase of de-escalation. Moreno also revealed that 275 of the 786 municipalities in Andalucia have not succumbed to the pandemic and are completely free of the virus and this data will be included in the report Coronavirus rates broken down by municipality. [Something that has been top secret, why release it now? To back the request "that Andalucia is prepared to begin de-escalation by Province, Health district, or Comarca" or because the number are now looking better.]

28-04-2020 Tuesday
Duly on the evening of Tuesday 28-04-2020 the "Plan for the Transition to a new Normality"  was revealed: four stages over 8 weeks on a province by province basis. It will last eight weeks until the end of June. "there will be no movement between provinces or islands until the new normal is reached." During all this time, successive extensions of the state of alarm will be approved allowing the Government the retain authority on actions. Tourist arrivals were not mentioned.  

30-04-2020 Thursday
Minister for Health Salvador Illa, detailed on Thursday 30-04-2020 (and was published in BOE next morning) how adults are able to go for a walk or undertake individual sports. From 06.00 to 10.00 hrs and from 20.00 to 23.00 hrs persons between 14 yrs and 70 yrs can go for one walk a day, maximum distance from home 1km. Two people can walk together if they live together or if one is a carer, keeping at least 1m to 2m from others. This is also the time for individuals (not pairs) to practice exercise or sport ie go running or cycling. The one km limit does not apply to sport but must remain within municipality. You can not travel by car or public transport to a spot to start the 1km radius. From 10.00 to 12.00 hrs is the time for the over 70's and those needing a help. From 12.00 to 19.00 hrs is the time for children under 14 accompanied by an adult as permitted since Sunday 26-04-2020. In municipalities of less than 5.000 inhabitants the hours do not apply.

02-05-2020 Saturday
Pedro Sánchez gave some more details of the phased de-escalation "Plan for the Transition to a new Normality" (Plan para la Transición a una nueva Normalidad) on his regular Saturday evening televised press conference. We have updated the de-escalation plan phase rules below. From Monday 04-02-2020 the use of masks on public transport will be obligatory. It was only recommended before, but has passed to be obligatory as there are now sufficient stocks. On Wednesday 06-05-2020 he will ask Congress for another two week extension of the State of Alarm up to 23-05-2020.

04-05-2020 Monday
Cafes and Restaurants may open for a take away service, ordered by telephone, email or app. Small service shops (but not shopping centers) can open, under strict security conditions, to attend to individual clients who have an appointment made by telephone, email or app. Examples given were bookshops, ironmongers, hairdressers, repair shops. Preference must be given to over 65 yrs 10.00 to 12.00 hrs and 19.00 to 210.00 hrs). Shops must be cleaned twice a day, uniforms washed daily, clients may not use shop's bathroom. One employee attending one client at a time. Clients must not travel between municipalities (except very small municipalities).

04-05-2020 Monday
Phase 1 openings were allowed in four islands Formentera (Balearic Islands), a Gomera, el Hierro, la Graciosa (Canary Islands).

06-05-2020 Sunday
Andalucia Government has applied to Ministry of Sanidad for all Andalucia except health districts of Malaga city, Granada city, La Vega and Granada metropolitan area to move into Phase One on Monday 11-05-2020. This decision is based on 14 criteria, however the IA(14d) charts in this section are very indicative. The Ministry of Sanidad has now said that they prepared to to review which provinces that can move up to the next phase on a weekly basis, however as per the original plan provinces must remain in each of the three phases for at least two weeks. This opens the possibility that the Costa del Sol might move to Phase One on Monday 18-05-2020. the earliest that the Costa del Sol could reach the New Normality would be 29-06-2020.  One assumes hotels and tourism (with restrictions) would be open for business from that date. 

08-05-2020 Tuesday
The Ministry of Sanidad (Health) announced, the provinces that would pass to Phase One on Monday 11-05-2020. In Andalucia Huelva, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba, Jaén and Almeria provinces will pass to Phase One on Monday. Malaga (which includes the Costa del Sol ) and Granada will not. In total 51% of the population of Spain will pass to Phase One on Monday. Madrid and most of Catalonia will not. Phase One includes the opening of bar terraces to 50% capacity and meetings of up to ten people.

Andalucia Government has applied to Ministry of Sanidad for all Andalucia except health districts of Malaga city, Granada city, La Vega and Granada metropolitan area to move into Phase One on Monday 11-05-2020. This decision is based on 14 criteria, however the IA(14d) charts in this section are very indicative. The Ministry of Sanidad has now said that they prepared to to review which provinces that can move up to the next phase on a weekly basis, however as per the original plan provinces must remain in each of the three phases for at least two weeks.

This opens the possibility that the Costa del Sol might move to Phase One on Monday 18-05-2020 (and reach the 'New Normal' by 29-06-2020). This was confirmed by Fernando Simón of Ministerio de Sanidad at his daily press conference on 09-05-2020 and explained that Andalucia submission"was a little different" from the other regions because "all had made concrete proposals with complete territorial units", whereas Andalucía had proposed six complete provinces that met the criteria and then in two provinces; Granada and Málaga, the proposal was for parts of the territory that should pass. Whilst most of Malaga prefered to blame to failure to move forward on 'political motives' and 'dealing a blow the the reputation and recovery of the Costa del Sol", Sebastian Sanchez in Malaga Hoy offered a more reasoned explanation; "Sources close to the Ministry of Health directly alluded to the fact that the Junta de Andalucia lacks a plan “to guarantee that there is no mobility between zones in Phase 0 and Zones in Phase 1 within the same province, as well as how to isolate those zones in case of a possible rebound." On 11-05-2020 Andalucia said they were resumbiting the same proposal to Sanidad in Madrid.

12-05-2020 Tuesday
All travelers from abroad must enter a 14-day quarantine from Friday 15-05-2020 as published in the BOE on 12-05-2020. People must remain at home or in hotels / apartments and must limit their local travel essential such as buying food or vising chemist or doctor and must wear a mask. Travel agencies and tour operators must advise clients of these measures. Airlines will require passengers to complete a ‘Passenger Location card', for contact details and the address of the quarantine. The health authorities may contact and monitor the people in quarantine. This applies to Spaniards, and foreign residents or anybody entering Spain.

This quarantine notice updates the previous rule that travel from any country by land or sea or air into Spain was not permitted for tourism or leisure since the Spanish government under the special powers granted under the State of Alert, The land borders with France & Portugal (but not Gibraltar* nor Andorra) and all Sea ports were closed to all inbound non essential passengers on 18-03-2020. Roadblock are being maintained 24/7. The airports such as Malaga were closed a few days later, the delay was to allow commercial flights to operate and help tourists (and others including foreign residents) to leave Spain. The only people who can enter Spain are cross border workers, health care professionals, freight transport drivers, diplomats, or those on imperative family duty.

15-05-2020 Friday
The current Spanish international arrival ban on all except Spanish, their spouses, long term foreign residents was renewed until 15-06-2020.  Cross-border workers, carriers and crews, as well as health professionals who are going to carry out their work, are excepted from these measures, provided they have not been in contact with people diagnosed with Coronavirus  The EU also renewed their ban on EU arrivals and suggested an air bridge between safe inter EU destinations could be developed. 

This follows a recommendation by the European Commission “to prolong the temporary restriction on non-essential travel into the EU until 15 June.” However Brussels had asked member states to allow free internal movement for European citizens.

This does not conflict with the previously issued 14-day quarantine order starting 15-05-2020 in the sense that essential travellers including returning home Spanish national and long term foreign residents (updated to include spouses) who gain entry will have to quarantine for 14 days, (see below)

15-05-2020 Friday

Malaga and Granada provinces moved forward to Phase 1 on Monday 18-05-2020 joining the rest of Andalucia. Madrid Region and the city of Barcelona as well as large parts of Castilla y León totalling 30% of Spanish population remain in Phase 0.

20-05-2020 Saturday
A ministerial order was published in the BOE today stating that from tomorrow it will be obligatory to wear face-masks in public spaces; whether in open air or inside including shops. This is anywhere that it is impossible to maintain 2 metres social distancing.

Some people are exempt; A child under 7 years old. Those with respiratory difficulties which could be aggravated by wearing a mask. Those who have been advised against wearing a mask for justified health reasons. Those with a disability or dependency where wearing a mask causes issue.

Activities that are incompatible with the mask are also exempt. For example, eating and drinking on a public terrace. As always, causes of force majeure or a situation of need is exempt too.

Malaga and Granada provinces moved forward to Phase 1 on Monday 18-05-2020 joining the rest of Andalucia. Madrid Region and the city of Barcelona as well as large parts of Castilla y León totalling 30% of Spanish population remain in Phase 0.

21-05-2020 Sunday
Teresa Ribera the Spanish Government Minister responsible for the de-escalation plan said in an interview with EFE (state press agency ) regarding the return of international tourists, “Our idea is that we could work with safe origins and destinations and this is more likely to be in July than June.”

22-05-2020 Monday
The Ministry of Sanidad (Health) announced the provinces that would pass to Phase Two. In Andalucia Huelva, Sevilla, Cadiz, Cordoba, Jaén and Almeria provinces pass to Phase Two on Monday 25-05-2020. Malaga (which includes the Costa del Sol ) and Granada remain in Phase One (probably for another week). All remaining parts of Spain including Madrid, Barcelona and Castilla y Leon pass to Phase One on Monday.

23-05-2020 Tuesday
Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister announced that international tourists would be able to return to Spain in July. He was not specific on date nor conditions. He basically repeated Teresa Ribera words of 21-05-2020 (see below) being conditional on secure options. He also said that Spaniards should start planning their own holidays from the end of June. La Liga and other football competitions would resume behind closed doors on the 08-06-2020 he added.

30-05-2020 Saturday
The Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto, in an interview with EFE confirmed the Spanish Government is working on safe corridor projects so that in the second half of June some regions, currently Balearic and Canary Islands, can receive foreign tourists, possibly German and Nordic, as a first step to open Spanish borders to international tourists on 01-07-2020.

31-05-2020 Sunday
Pedro Sánchez, Prime minister announced that he will request Congress for the sixth and final State of Alarm renewal up to 21-06-2020. By which time most of Spain will have passes stage 3 and be in the 'new normality'. It is understood the intention after 21-06-2020 is to pass the responsibility over to the Regional Governments and health authorities.

The 14-day quarantine imposed on all foreign tourists could end on 21-06-2020 a government source told TVE, but it will depend of the EU agreements. It was previously announced to finish on 01-07-2020. Francina Armengol, President of Balearic islands stated that Pedro Sánchez had agreed to end this restriction on international tourist arrivals on that date as well. Sanchez said in a TV address on Sunday that the approach is to lift the quarantine when the state of alarm ends so that "in July many foreign tourists can be received in Spain with security guarantees, for them and for the population as a whole ".

03-06-2020 Wednesday
Pedro Sánchez, Prime minister passed in Congress for the sixth and final State of Alarm renewal up to 21-06-2020. By which time most of Spain will have passes stage 3 and be in the 'new normality'. After the State of Alarm there will be a specif Law passed by Congress and various powers and responsibilites will be returned or devolved to the Regional administrations.

The 14-day quarantine imposed on all foreign tourists could end on 21-06-2020 a government source told TVE, but it will depend of the EU agreements. It was previously announced to finish on 01-07-2020. Francina Armengol, President of Balearic islands stated that Pedro Sánchez had agreed to end this restriction on international tourist arrivals on that date as well. Sanchez said in a TV address on Sunday that the approach is to lift the quarantine when the state of alarm ends so that "in July many foreign tourists can be received in Spain with security guarantees, for them and for the population as a whole ".

04-06-2020 Thursday

04-06-2020 Spain will lift the 14-day quarantine on incoming international tourists from 01-07-2020. Spain will be lift incoming restrictions at its land borders with France and Portugal from Monday 22 June. The Spanish government has also clarified that it intends to lift the restrictions for 'safe international mobility' on 01-07-2020. This was announced by Pedro Sánchez but no details were given.

05-06-2020 Friday
Minister for Sanidad announced that Malaga and Granada province will join the other six provinces in Andalucia in moving into Phase Three on Monday 8-06-2020. This unification was at the repeated request of the President of Andalucia. Malaga and Granada provinces were only in Phase Two for a week not two. In Phase Three it is now up the the regions whether the citizens can travel between provinces for leisure. This suggests that all Andalucia and most of Spain will complete Phase Three on Sunday 21-06-2020. The EU has recommended that member countries open up their internal borders to other EU countries as soon as possible and before the end of June.

06-06-2020 Saturday
The Junta de Andalucia has announced that it will make use of the new powers and will lift the internal provincial borders within the community. This will enable those staying on the Costa del Sol (in Malaga province), for example, to visit Tarifa (in Cadiz province) or Granada from Monday 8th June.

06-06-2020 More details about life in Phase Three. The discotheques return, but ... without dancing. Bullfights return but without spectators. The Official State Gazette (BOE) published Saturday the new "flexibilization" measures for the Phase Three which includes all 8 provinces Andalucia from Monday 8th June.

08-06-2020 Monday
All eight provinces in Andalucia, have now moved into Phase Three of the de-escalation Plan. This means that leisure travel is permitted within all Andalucia. This will enable residents of the Costa del Sol (in Malaga province), for example, to visit Tarifa (in Cadiz province)or any of the 8 provinces. Restaurants can open at 50% capacity, walking, exercise and sport is permitted at all times and beaches are open.

14-06-2020 Sunday
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Sunday that Spain will open its borders with Europe on 21st of June. This was later clarified to include both the EU countries (including UK in transition) and Schengen Area countries (including Norway and Switzerland). Quarantine upon arrival will also be lifted. At the request of Portuguese Prime Minster Antonio Costa, the border between Spain and Portugal, will remain closed until the 1st of July. Source Reuters . Visitors from other countries that are non-EU and non Schengen, will be allowed into Spain from the 1st of July if there is a reciprocal agreement in place, between Spain and that specific corresponding country.(edited 15-06-2020)

18-06-2020 Thursday
British Government Foreign and Commonwealth office Advice has updated its information on travel to Spain. The advice now states: "The State of Emergency (“Estado de Alarma”) declared on 14 March, will end on June 21. From this date, Spain will re-open its borders to European Union and Schengen-area countries (with the exception of Portugal where the restrictions will continue to apply up until 1 July), and travellers from the UK. This means that British nationals will no longer need to present a residency certificate to enter Spain. However general travel advise still remains "Avoid non-essential international travel" and returning travellers will need to self isolate for 14 days.

20-06-2020 Saturday
Spain's foreign affairs minister Arancha González Laya told the BBC that British citizens will be allowed to enter Spain freely, without the need to self-isolate from 00.01 hrs Sunday 21-06-2020. She said the decision had been made "out of respect" for the 400,000 Britons who have second homes in Spain. UK visitors will go through a "triple check" upon arrival in Spain. They will be asked for their country of origin and to register "so we know we have a contact point to trace them", she said. They will also undergo a temperature check.

21-06-2020 Sunday
Spain has now opened its borders with all Europe except Portugal. This includes both the EU countries (including UK in transition) and Schengen Area countries (including Norway and Switzerland). Quarantine upon arrival has also been lifted. A dozen Flights from Spain and now Europe arrive in Malaga airport from Sunday. A Eurowings A320 from Dusseldorf was the first to land, half an hour early at 09.42 hrs. It was followed by a Transavia B738 from Eindhoven at 10.22 hrs. The first from the UK was a Ryanair B738 from Stansted landing at 13.06 hrs.

10-07-2020 Sunday
British government from today relaxed quarantine restrictions on a list of countries and territories including Spain. Those arriving into England & Wales and Northern Ireland will NOT have to self isolate for 14 days. This exemption also applies to Spanish Nationals and foreign residents who wish to visit or return to England. Lists for Scotland are still to be published.

Spain relaxed its quarantine restriction to travellers from Britain and other EU countries on 14-06-20. However all arrivals, regardless of Nationality or departure country, are required to complete a 'Spain Travel Health' form online and print the QR code and show it to immigration control. If you don't have the online form you will be required to complete a form at the control.

11-07-2020
Juanma Moreno, the President of the Junta de Andalucia announced in Ceuta that on Monday he would propose to the Technical-Medical committee that the wearing of face masks in public should be made obligatory. This follows similar rules in Catalonia and Extremadura Regions. At present the wearing of masks is only compulsory if a social distance of 1.5m cannot be maintained.

15-07-2020
Masks are now be obligatory in all open and closed spaces in Andalucia, except in family units. This means masks are worn walking about and entering a restaurant and bars but not whilst eating or drinking. Similarly masks are to be worn walking on the beach or poolside, but not swimming not seated 'under the umbrella' in a family unit. The regional minister clarified the definition of family unit as 'those whom you normally spend time with'. Fines will be issued to those who do not wear mask or do not wear them properly.

25-07-2020
One month after the end of the lockdown, Spain is recording an increase in cases particularly in Aragon where the number of cases in the last 14 day per 100.00 population is 287,  Catalonia is 111 and Navara is 110. The south and the islands record much lower cases; Andalucia 11, Baleares 8 and Canarias 6. See updated chart of Cases by Spanish region. The figure for the UK overall is 15.

26-07-2020
New coronavirus quarantine rules have came into force in the UK on Sunday, requiring travellers arriving from Spain to self-isolate for 14 days.

On Sunday the Spanish foreign minister stated that they were in discussions with the UK to request travel corridor exemption for the Islands. Naturally the presidents of the regions of Andalucia and Valencia complained that they were not included in this initiative.

27-07-2020
The UK foreign office travel advisory 'against all non essential travel' which had initially only applied to mainland Spain was inexplicably modified to include all Spain.

Spain’s minister for Tourism, Reyes Maroto has assured the travel industry that the government will ask the 17 regions which, based on their  epidemiological data, should be included in the ‘air corridors’ and take this proposal forward to the British government.

28-07-2020
Pedro Sánchez said tourists in most Spanish regions would be safer from coronavirus than in the UK, and he was hoping Britain would rethink its move.  The UK government said it has no plans to change its decision to reintroduce the quarantine measures - with Boris Johnson's official spokesman warning that "no travel is risk-free during this pandemic". Source BBC News

01-08-2020
Rules by Andalucia regional government for bars and restaurants. Max 40 people allowed indoors. Max 12 people allowed at a time on one table. Facemasks use is mandatory (except when eating and drinking. Only table service, no bar service. One person from each table needs to provide contact details; name, surname, mobile phone number.

16-08-2020
In Andalucia it is not permitted to smoke in the street or other public place when you CAN NOT ensure a minimum distance of 2 metros from others. Restaurants must have a max of 75% capacity, diners may be at tables of max ten persons which must be separated by 1.5m from other groups. All establishments must close at 01.00 and the last admittance is 00.00. Nightclubs are not open.

Drinking in the street, except at café or restaurant terrace, is not permitted now anywhere in Spain. This measure is to prevent the ‘bottellon’, where (mainly) young people hold impromptu street (or car park or beach) parties consuming less expensive supermarket or petrol station purchased drinks. The sale of alcoholic drink has not been permitted after 22.00 hrs (and before 08.00) in Andalucia since June 2002. 

There are now more Coronavirus cases among young people and a lower death rate. More cases are now being tested than in the earlier stages of the pandemic and consequently more are testing positive although three quarters are asymptomatic. Symptomatic cases are now less serious, partly because the average age has fallen from 60 to 40, and because the health service is now more experienced and less overwhelmed. The statistics are currently heading in the wrong direction. See the difference on the graph of cases and hospitalisation per per day in Andalucia since the last March below. page.

20-08-2020
Marbella and Nerja council has now announced that it is closing the beaches in the evening until further notice. Sunbathers have until 22.00 (Marbella) or 24.00 (Nerja) to leave the beach.

01-09-2020
All beaches in Andalucia are closed from 22.00 to 07.00 except singles activities such as fishing (with a valid fishing license).  

22-10-2020
On Friday 23rd it became obligatory to wear a face-mask in cafes, bars, and restaurants, at all times, except when actually eating or drinking. This new rule published in the BOJA 22-10-2020 modifies the order of 19-06-2020 which, in effect, exempted masks when seated at tables. Source BOJA 22-10-2020.

Additionally, in the case of practicing physical sport that is non federated (ie not part of an official training or competition) the use of mask is obligatory if social distancing cannot be guaranteed. This in effect closes the loophole for casual cyclists and scooter riders not to wear masks. Source BOJA 22-10-2020.

22-10-2020
On Friday 23rd it became obligatory to wear a face-mask in cafes, bars, and restaurants, at all times, except when actually eating or drinking. This new rule published in the BOJA 22-10-2020 modifies the order of 19-06-2020 which, in effect, exempted masks when seated at tables. Source BOJA 22-10-2020.

Additionally, in the case of practicing physical sport that is non federated (ie not part of an official training or competition) the use of mask is obligatory if social distancing cannot be guaranteed. This in effect closes the loophole for casual cyclists and scooter riders not to wear masks. Source BOJA 22-10-2020.

25-10-2020
The Andalucía Government has being introducing a series of measures over the last few days (see below). Their health minister had said last Thursday that Andalucia does not have any intention to request a ‘state of alarm’ from the national government (as has been done by 8 of the 17 Spanish regions) because it has found an existing legal formula for measures. This followed informal talks with the Andalucia judiciary.

The initial restrictions on Granada city have been extended to Sevilla, Córdoba and Jaén cities and another 13 towns. The restrictions close cafes, bars, restaurants, and shops at 22.00 and restrict their capacity to 50%. Exceptions are pharmacies and petrol stations. Weddings and religious ceremonies limited to 30 people. Street markets are closed.

The 13 towns are Los Gallardos (Almería), Baeza, Quesada (Jaen), Estepa, Lora de Estepa, Gilena, Marinaleda, Herrera, La Roda de Andalucia, Badolatosa, Utrera, El Castillo de las Guardas, Pedrera, Ecija (Sevilla).

Additionally, Andalucia wide, the number of people that can group to take part in a physical contact sport is limited to six whether in a sport centre or outside. Parks and gardens will be closed as well as childrens’ playgrounds.

This measure was announced 2020 by Andalucía Government health minister last Thursday and published in BOJA on 23-10-2020.

National curfew and state of alarm again

25-10-2020
Pedro Sanchez, national government president, announced on television Sunday afternoon a new national ‘State of Alarm’ had been approved by the cabinet (Consejo de Ministros) with inmediate effect. Initially the new state of alarm will cover two weeks, hoowever it is the intention that it should remain in place up 9th May 2021. Congress will need to approve fortnightly extensions. The reason for the State of alarm ‘are clearly justified by the second wave’ and it is the ‘most efficient tool to break the curve of contagious and get the virus under control' explained Sanchez'. 'The objective is to get the cumulative number of coronavirus cases down to 25 per 100,000 inhabitants over a two-week period. Spain currently exceeds 400.' (Update 27-10-2020 Spain is now 436 )

The measures introduced nationally are an obligatory curfew for the entire country from 23.00 to 06.00, with regional presidents having the right to bring forward or back the curfew times by one hour. Exceptions only for going to and from work or caring for elderly.

The decree also limits social meetings between citizens to six people unless they live together.

Regions will also have the capability of closing off towns, provinces or their regional borders except for essential reasons such as going to work. This first decree will NOT see the closure of Spain’s international borders, as was the case during the first wave of the pandemic.

The Canary Islands is exempted from the nighttime curfew in a bid to aid the tourism sector. The islands are also exempt from the UK's inbound 14 day traveler's quarentene.

26-10-2020
Andalucia president says he will make and announcement on Wednesday about new measures for Andalucia. They will be taken with 'agility and not impulsively'. The restaurant industry has requested that the 'curfew' be from 24.00 rather than 23.00. Whilst it is being commonly referred to as 'toque de queda' (curfew), Pedro Sanchez insists it is 'night-time movement restrictions'. In other words you can stay in a hotel as long as you arrive by 23.00.

27-10-2020
Andalucia President, Juanma Moreno announced that tomorrow morning (Wednesday) he would decide whether to close Andalucia borders with other regions ahead of the bank holiday weekend according to El Mundo newspaper. Sunday 1st November is All Saints day and Monday is a bank holiday. A number of town halls including Ubeda had already expressed their concern about the ability to control ‘clandestine fiestas’ over the weekend. Juan Marin, Vice President had said earlier ‘If we have to close Andalucia, by the criteria of the health experts, we will close.’ This is in strict contrast to his statements the day before, “the possibility of restricting entry to Andalucia on the forthcoming public holiday is not being considered.”

30-10-2020
Andalucia closed its borders with neighbouring regions (Extramadura, Castilla la Mancha and Murcia) over the bank holiday and during the week up to at least 09-11-2020. In addition, borders of three provinces within Andalucia are closed; Seville, Granada and Jaén

The international borders into Andalucia/Spain have not been closed by the National Government. This includes land borders with Portugal and Gibraltar. Airports are open and passengers can enter, however once a traveller is on Andalucia soil, local travel restrictions as outlined below apply. Travellers into Malaga airport can travel to destinations along the Costa del Sol for example but not for leisure to Granada, Cordoba nor Seville province. Travellers into Granada or Seville airports will not be permitted to travel for leisure outside the city's municipal district.

Furthemore 448 towns and village limits (actually municipal district borders) are also be closed. These are ALL the municipal districts in province of Seville, Granada and Jaén plus the health authority districts of Córdoba South, La Vega de Málaga (Antequera area), Jerez North East Coastal and Sierra de Cadiz (Arcos, Olvera, Ubrique, Villamartin). There are no town and village border closures in Huelva or Almeria province. In all cases travel for work, health visits, looking after dependents, force majeuvre is an exception if carrying supporting documentation.

The curfew in Andalucia remains as the national curfew as 23.00 to 06.00. Bars and restaurants in Andalucia must now close at 22.30 and their terraces at 75% capacity and inside at 50% capacity. Meetings of more than six persons (not living together) are still not permitted whether in inside or outide location.

All the Andaluicia measures above are in force until 09-11-2020. This was the date when the national state of alarm had to be renewed by. Actually on 29-10-2020 Congress aproved the state of alarm until the 09-05-2021.

02-11-2020
The number of Coronavirus patients in Andalucia hospitals is currently 2.764 of which 381 are currently in intensive care. This is greater than the peak on the 30th March of 2.708 when there were 438 in intensive care.

03-11-2020
The number of positive test resuls in the last 14 days per 100.000 population was greater in Andalucia (561) than Madrid (374) or the Spanish average (527) for the first time. See chart of cases rates for all 17 regions at the foot of our Confirmed Cases page.

06-11-2020
The Andalucia governemnt says it is not currently considering a home lockdown in Andalucia but has stated that there will be increased restriction announced on Sunday 08-11-2020 effective from Tuesday 10-11-2020 (Current Andalucia restriction run to this date see 30-10-2020 below). At a conference in Malaga last Wednesday, President Manuel Moreno suggested a curfew in the afternoons which would be less damamging to the 'productive system' of the mornings. At the same time the Councilor for Health and Families, Jesús Aguirre urged Sanidad (National Governement) to clarify the posibility (of a Region) to decree on "the total or partial confinement of the population".

08-11-2020
The Andalucian President Manuael Moreno announced the new Coronavirus measure for Andalucia which will take effect from 00.00 Tuesday 10-11-2020.

  • The Andalucia border with other Spanish regions (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Murcia) will be closed until at least 23-11-2020.
  • The border of ALL municipal districts will be closed, not just those Seville, Granada, Cordoba and certain others. “One can only enter or leave for a justified reason.”
  • Night curfew in Andalucia to be extended to 20.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs.
  • All non-essential activity (general shops, cafes, restaurants, offices, business) in Andalucia must close at 18.00. In Granada province non-essential activity is closed all day.
  • Schools will remain open, Universities must hold all classes online except for laboratory and experimental sessions.

09-11-2020
It was not clear from the decree whether an international tourists (there are about 10.000 arrivals a week) are permitted to travel to a pre-booked hotel/apartment located in a different town from the airport. However Antonio Martin-Machuca, Marketing Director for Andalucia tourist board, did answer a question at the annual World Travel Market online conference today by saying "We are open at the moment but if we receive UK visitors to Andalucia they can not move between cities. They must stay in their city of choice".

10-11-2020
New Coronavirus measures for Andalucia came into effect at 00.00 Tuesday 10-11-2020.

  • The Andalucia border with other Spanish regions (Extremadura, Castilla la Mancha and Murcia) will be closed until at least 23-11-2020.
  • The border of ALL municipal districts will be closed, not just those Seville, Granada, Cordoba and certain others. “One can only enter or leave for a justified reason.”
  • Night curfew in Andalucia to be extended to 22.00 hrs to 07.00 hrs.
  • All non-essential activity (general shops, cafes, restaurants, offices, business) in Andalucia must close at 18.00. In Granada province non-essential activity is closed all day.
  • Schools will remain open, Universities must hold all classes online except for laboratory and experimental sessions.

In all cases travel between towns (municipal districts) for work, health visits, looking after dependents, force majeure is considered a justified exception if carrying supporting documentation. Here is the complete list of justifications:

  • Appointments at health centres, hospitals, clinics and other health establishments.
  • Compliance with work, professional, business, institutional or legal obligations.
  • Attendance at university, teaching and educational centres, including nursery schools.
  • Return to the place of habitual or family residence.
  • Assistance and care for the elderly
  • Travel to banks, financial or insurance establishments or petrol station stations in neighbouring districts.
  • Necessary or urgent actions at public, judicial or notary offices.
  • Renewals of permits and official documentation, as well as other administrative procedures that cannot be postponed.
  • Taking official exams or tests that cannot be postponed.
  • Due to force majeure or situations of need.
  • Any other activity of a similar nature, duly accredited.

Bars and restaurants in Andalucia must now close at 18.00 and their terraces at 75% capacity and inside at 50% capacity. Meetings of more than six persons (not living together) are still not permitted whether in inside or outside location.

Business that are exempt from closing at 18.00 are Car Hire offices, those at Airports, Sea ports, train stations, hospitals and at Motorway service stations.

The international borders into Andalucia/Spain have not been closed by the National Government. This includes land borders with Portugal and Gibraltar. Airports are open and passengers can enter, however once a traveller is on Andalucia soil, local travel restrictions as outlined above apply. Travellers into Malaga airport can travel to Malaga city, however travel to destinations along the Costa del Sol or to other parts of Andalucia would require written documentary justification.

10-11-2020 (Updated 10-12-2020)
From 1 January 2021 international tourists in Andalucia will be covered by a Covid health insurance arranged and paid for by the regional government Junta de Andalucia.  The insurance will cover any circumstances relating to Covid such as medical and surgical and hospital bills, pharmaceutical costs, additional accommodation cost for isolation plus repatriation if necessary. The maximum claim is 4.000€ and the policy excess is 100€. The plan was first announced by Juan Marin, Tourism councillor back in September and more details were announced by Antonio Martin Machuca, Marketing Director for Andalucia on 9th Nov at the annual World Travel Market online conference and in paid online and printed advertising in December. The insurance policy covers tourists who are NOT resident in Spain of any age, staying in a regulated property; Hotel, Tourist Apartment, Apartment, Pension, Casa Rural or Camping. This does not include a holiday rental property whether registered or not). Tourists will complete and sign an insurance form at the accommodation check-in.

11-11-2020
Andalucia government, along with the Basque Country and Castilla y León, insisted to Salvador Illa, national Minister of Health at the Interterritorial Council meeting, the need for the region to have the legal right to decree a home lockdown to stop the spread of the coronavirus. President of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno stated he "did not understand" the rejection at the inter-territorial Health Commission to the "formal" request to extend the curfew in Andalucia to "for example at 7:00 p.m." the following day Fernando simon in Madrid made it clear he did not support the move towards home lockdown.

11-11-20 (updated 14-11-2020)
Spanish Health Minister, Salvador Illa announced that all those entering Spain from high-risk zones by air or sea from 23-11-2020 would be required to have a certificate of a negative coronavirus PCR test (not antibody or antigen) taken within the previous 72 hours. The high-risk zones are guided by European Centre for Disease prevention and Control's recommendation map of zones of over 150 cases in last 14 days per 100.000 populations. This is currently all Europe except Norway, Finland and parts of Greece. A full list of zones was published in the BOE (state gazette) and will be updated every 15 days. The measure does not apply to land borders (Portugal, France Gibraltar, Andorra). Travellers should pre-register at www.spth.gob.es and obtain QR code for presentation to airline and on arrival. By exception travelers unable to register online should present original test certificates in English or Spanish. Existing measures; temperature checks, visual symptoms, and declaring residence details still apply.

22-11-2020
Andalucia President announced the second renewal of New Coronavirus measures for Andalucia (from 24-11-2020) to 10-12-2020. The renewed measures are effectively the same as at present. The Granada Sur health district (Las Alpujarras and Costa Tropical) improved from level 4 Grade 2 to Level 4 (See Four levels) meaning that their shops and business, like most of Andalucia, can open to 18.00 hrs. Axarquia improved to Level 3. Malaga city remains at Level 3. All other districts that were on Level 3 deteriorated to Level 4. Other Andalucia wide changes; bars and restaurants can stay open to 21.30 hrs for take-away service. Toy shops can stay open to 20.00 hrs.

All municipal boundaries and Andalucía’s boundary remains closed except for justified reasons (See 'More News updates' below for 10-11-2020). The curfew remains 22.00 to 07.00 hrs.

Reminder that that all those entering Spain from high-risk zones by air or sea from 23-11-2020 would be required to have a certificate of a negative coronavirus PCR test taken within the previous 72 hours. See 'More News updates' below for 11-11-2020.

29-11-2020
The Junta de Andalucía decided this Sunday to soften the closure of Granada and now allows shops and hotels to open until 18.00 hrs, as is the case in the rest of the Andalucia. The province of Granada had been under stricter restrictions with all but essential establishments closed. The IA(14d) incident rate in Granada has dropped to 444 which although higher than the Andalucia average of 357 (on 29-11-2020) is less than the Granada metropolitan area's peak of 1.280. The news was announced by the Juanma Moreno, President of Andalucian Government, in Granada after chairing a meeting of the ‘Territorial alerts committee' held in Granada (rather than Seville as is usual).

02-12-2020
Salvador Illa, the Minister for Heath announced special lightening of the current restrictions that had been agreed with the regions. Christmas dinner may host up to ten people, including family members and close friends (Update 12-12-2020: Andalucia Government announced that would  removed 'friends' but when their decree was published it was included). Children will be counted like the rest of the diners. Currently a rule of six applies.

From December 23 to January 10 people will be able to move from one autonomous region to another for the additional special reason of “going to celebrate a Christmas holiday with the family."

The national curfew is extended on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to 1.30 in the morning for those returning home from a family dinner. There will not be festivals over the Christmas period such as the Three Kings parade usually held on evening of 5th January.

10-12-2020
Andalucia President announced on television relaxations in two phases. From Saturday 12-12-2020 (00.01 hrs) until Thursday 17-12-2020 (23.59 hrs) the mobility be extended to provincial limits (previously municipal limits). Business can stay open until 21.00 hrs but and Cafes / Bars / Restaurants still to close at 18.00hrs.

The President also announced from Friday 18-12-2020 (00.01 hrs) to Sunday 10-01-2021 (23.59 hrs) the mobility with be extended to all Andalucia. Cafes / Bars / Restaurants can stay open until 18.00 and then open again 20.00 to 22.30 hrs. Other business can operate normal hours. The curfew will be reduced and be from 23.00 to 06.00.

The curfew is extended on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to 1.30 in the morning, for those travelling home from a family dinner.

There will be no festivals over the Christmas period such as the Three Kings parade usually held on evening of 5th January.

The Sierra Nevada ski resort would be allowed to open from 18-12-2020.

09-12-2020
Andalucia President announced on Twitter the two day extension of the current Coronavirus measures for Andalucia (from 10-12-2020) to 12-12-2020. There will be a meeting of the 'Territorial alerts committee' on Thursday afternoon 10-12-2020 to decide on next steps. It is unclear why the meeting was not held Wednesday as had been assumed. The Coronavirus statistics for Andalucia continue to improve (see below), many are hoping for a pre-christmas replacement of the municipal mobility restriction for inter provincial travel restrictions.

17-12-2020
Seville Town Hall confirmed that the Seville April Fair would not take place. The mayor explained that in a best case scenario only 30% of the population would be immunised by then.

18-12-2020
Andalucia President, Juanma Moreno, said in a radio interview that "everything seemed to indicate that there will not be a Semana Santa (Easter or Holy Week) in Andalucía in 2021". This will be the second year the Holy Week processions have been cancelled.

18-12-2020
Until Sunday 10-01-2021 (23.59 hrs) all travel is permitted within the region of Andalucia. Cafes / Bars / Restaurants can stay open until 18.00 and then open again from 20.00 to 22.30 hrs. Cafeterías, Ice Cream Parlours and Chocolaterías can remain open from 18.00 to 20.00 but must not sell alcohol, the Cafes must be able to offer food. Other business can operate normal hours. The Andalucia curfew is  from 23.00 to 06.00 hrs.

The curfew is extended on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve to 01.30 hrs in the morning, for those travelling home from a family dinner.

There will be no festivals over the Christmas period such as the Three Kings parade usually held on evening of 5th January.

The Sierra Nevada Ski Resort opens for the winter season from 18-12-2020. Other attractions such as the Caminito del Rey are also opening again.

Christmas and New Year eve dinner may host up to ten people, including family members and close friends (Update 12-12-2020: Andalucia Government announced that would  removed 'friends' but when their official decree was published close friends were included). Children are to be counted like the rest of the diners. Other days the general rule of six applies.

From December 23rd to January 10th people will be able to move from one autonomous region to another for the additional special reason of “going to celebrate a Christmas holiday with the family."

21-12-2020
Spain have announced they will be restricting passenger travel on inbound flights from the UK from Tuesday 22 December, with the exception of Spanish nationals and those legally resident in Spain. Update 28-12-2020 Despite this measure there was no UK to AGP flight cancelations with about 8 flights a day over the Christmas period whereas in early/mid December there was only one or two flights.

Foreign national residents should carry their residence document (the green paper EU residence certificate or the new TIE or confirmation of TIE application). Padron certificates, utility bills and property deeds will not be accepted by Spanish authorities as proof of residency.

29-12-2020
Seville's Easter processions in 2021 now officaly cancelled for second year running. The Archbishop of Seville, Monsignor Juan José Asenjo has suspend Holy Week processions in 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

02-01-2020 Jesús Aguirre, the Junta de Andalucia Health Minister has closed the borders of the eight municipal districts of the Campo de Gibraltar. This is La Línea, Algeciras, Los Barrios, Castellar de la Frontera, Jimena de la Frontera, San Martín del Tesorillo, San Roque y Tarifa. This is in response to a rate of incidence over last 14 days per 100,000 inhabitants of 316 cases in the heath district. (Actually the rate in last official stats of 31-12-2020, is not so high the current Andalusian average is 140, down from 550 a few weeks ago although La Linea was 582). The concern is more more related to the proliferation of cases in Gibraltar where the rate has just spiked to 2.865 and a curfew has been introduced. Some Gibraltar cases are linked to the new British strain of Covid-19 and there were five of these cases registered in Andalucia today. Three were in the province of Malaga, two in Granada, one in Seville and one in the Campo de Gibraltar.

04-01-2021 The vice-president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juan Marín, aid today that “so far 26,000 people in the region had received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.” This was the first time that details of the rate of vaccinations had been published for Andalucia, which received 70,000 doces a week ago. In other words only 37% of available doses have been administered. A percentage better than Spanish average of 11%, but would still take 12 years to vaccinate (two doses) all Andalucia.

The aim, he said, is to have around 800,000 people vaccinated by the end of January, although the rate of administering the jabs depends on supply which "on a global level is being quite slow". As only 70,000 weekly delivery has been promised to Andalucia by Madrid from its EU quota, this estimate is rather optimistic.

The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, said last weekend that he “hoped to have half of the Andalusian population of eight million people vaccinated by early next summer.” This hope, also qualified by rate of supply, was also wildly optimistic.

06-01-2021 (updated 08-01-2021) The regions have now received their second weeks supply. Number of vaccine doses delivered to Andalucia is 140.295 and the number administered is 69.445 (50%). At this rate (5.342 per day) it will take about 9 years to vaccinate (two doses) all Andalucia. This does contrast with 23-12-2020 Junta info about planned vaccination network.  The number of vaccine doses distributed to all Spain's regions is 743.925 and the number administered is 277.976 (37%). Data 07-01-2021 

08-01-2021 All international passengers will soon have to test negative for Covid-19 before travelling to the UK. All travellers irrespective of nationality arriving by plane, train or boat will have to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving their departure. This was announced by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps.

This It will be on top of the rule to self-isolate for 10 days when arriving in the UK.Travellers can reduce this self-isolation period if they take another test and have a second negative certificate.

There will, however, be a small number of exemptions, including hauliers, children under 11, and those travelling from countries without the infrastructure to deliver tests. Arrivals from the Common Travel Area with Ireland will also be exempt.

11-01-2021 Monday 11-01-2021 to 23-01-2021. The closure of the Andalucia land border remains, and travel between the 8 provinces is permitted. The border of 8 municipalities in the Campo de Gibraltar remains plus Añora in Córdoba province. The curfew returns to 22.00 to 06.00. Max of 6 persons meeting remains. Shops and business may remain open until 20.00 hrs. Bars must close at 18.00, Cafe can stay open until 20.00 but not sell alcohol after 18.00. The levels of protection are updated. Costa del Sol and most western Andalucia in Level 3 and Granada, Jaen and Almeria in Level 4.

17-01-2021 Since Sunday 17th January 2021strong> (BOJA) 219  municipalities have their perimeters closed for all but essential travel. 61 municipalities will prohibit all non essential activity. 

AI(14d) rate is the number of Coronavirus cases tested in the last 14 days per 100.000 population. It is a standard metric used since the beginning of the pandemic. A downside of this metric is a tendency for smaller places to bounce from very low to high rates very quickly.

To look up the status and the level of measures in force in any  any town or village in Andalucia check the interactive map on our Four levels page.

Seven key measures came into effect (from Sunday 17-01-2021).

Closure of the Andalucia land border remains.
Travel between the 8 provinces is NOT permitted (except for justified exceptions).
Closure of the perimeter of any municipality with an AI(14d) rate over 500.
Closing of all bars/cafe/restaurants and shops in Andalucia at 18.00 hrs.
Reduction from 6 to 4 of the maximum number of people meeting together in any place including cafes/bars.
Closing of all non essential activity in any municipality with an AI(14d) rate over 1000.
Curfew remains at 22.00 hrs to 06.00.

The general justified exceptions are explained on 10-11-2020 on the Coronavirus Cronology page. There are a number of interesting additional exceptions to inter provincial travel noted in the official publication in the BOJA. Inter provincial travel will be permitted to practice winter leisure sport on snow or ice. In order to prove this journey you must to pre-purchase a Sierra Nevada Ski –forfait– pass online. Monachil local police are checking paperwork at the entrance to the resort. Similarly inter provincial travel for hunting is permitted as long as it is linked to the control of the overabundance of game species that can cause damage to ecosystems. Also inter provincial travel for federated, high-level or high-performance athletes and coaches for official sports competitions. All are as long as you are NOT travelling FROM a closed municipality.

Each provincial Comité de Alertas de Salud will meet every Monday and Thursday and the revise town statistics list published that day. The BOJA will publish the official list on Tuesday and Friday for implementation at 00.01 on Wednesday and Saturday.

Towns that are included in the list will remain included for 14 days minimum.Look up AI(14d) rate for any municipality in Andalucia according to province; Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, Sevilla.  Last updated 21-01-2021.

The more detailed levels of protection measures were last updated on Tuesday 19-01-2021 and are due to be revised twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays for taking effect the following day. In summary most of Andalucia are in Level 3, 4i, 4ii.

19-01-2021 Regions received their fouth weeks supply of Pfizer and a small quantity of Moderna vaccine. Total number of vaccine doses delivered to Andalucia so far is 251.420 and the number administered is 210.065 (84%). At this rate (8.079 per day) it will take 6.1 years to vaccinate (two doses) all Andalucia. On Sunday 17-01-2021 the second doses (21 days) began to be administered, 20.836 people have received both doses and been issued with a QR code certificate. The number of vaccine doses distributed to all Spain's regions is 1.346.400, the number administered is 1.025.937 (76%). 15.642 people have received both doses. Andalucia Data 21-01-2021 and Spain Data 20-01-2021 

Andalucia will only be vaccinating 80% of doses received, holding back 20% to guarantee the second dose supply. A 'responsible and stratigic decision' (Manuel Moreno) or a convenient policy to cover the slowness of administration? Contingency funds are normally measured in time. In this case, to provide second doses, it is three weeks supply that need to be assured. An ultra safe policy would be to reserve the entirety of the last three weeks vaccinations which was 150k doses. 20% is 42k and is a little arbitrary, perhaps when 20% reaches 150k in the coming months it will be pegged.

The Andalucia health minister reported on 10-01-2021 that 1.57% of people had refused the vaccine offered.

Spain has ordered 20,873,941 doses (via the EU contract) of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and has the option to triple that amount, however is only due to receive 4,591,275 doses (22%) by the end of March 2021. This equates to delivery of 356k a week of which 19% or 70.000 doses a week are being distributed to Andalucia. There is some dispute as to the ability to administer the sixth dose from a Pfizer vaccine vial. This naturally questions the delivered doses statistic. 

20-01-2021 Since Wednesday 20th (BOJE)  326 municipalities have their perimeters closed for all but essential travel, including cities of Granada, Malaga, Corodoba, Almeria, Cadiz, Huelva. 144 municipalities will prohibit all non essential activity. 

22-01-2021 The Andalucia health councillor, Jesús Aguirre, asked everybody in Andalucia to stay at home after 20.00 hrs as a "voluntary and solidaditaty" measure. This follows the rejection by central government to give the Andalucian government legal powers to bring the curfew forward from 22.00hrs.

22-01-2021 The Andalucia health councillor, Jesús Aguirre, asked everybody in Andalucia to stay at home after 20.00 hrs as a "voluntary and solidarity" measure. This follows the rejection by central government to give the Andalucian government legal powers to bring the curfew forward from 22.00hrs.

23-01-2021 Since Saturday  23th (BOJE)  another 70 municipalities have their perimeters closed for all but essential travel. No additional municipalities will prohibit all non essential activity.

23-01-2021 Since Saturday  23th (BOJE)  another 70 municipalities have their perimeters closed for all but essential travel. No additional municipalities will prohibit all non essential activity

Download the eight province town closure lists. Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, Sevilla.

25-01-2020 Statistics published today by the Instituto de Estadistica y Cartografia de Andalucia show the IA(14d) rates for the following 8 municipalities in Malaga province: Manilva 1.307, Marbella 1.108, Estepona 1.005, Alhaurin de la Torre 1.093, Benarraba 1.758, Casabermeja 1.107 and Villanueva del Rosario 1.222. This indicates that these three will join the other 26 in Malaga province on Wednesday to prohibit all non essential activity.

Additionally the following 13 municipalities in Malaga province will join the other 29 have their perimeters closed on Wednesday: Almachar 773, Árchez 519, Casares 721, Antequera 563Cuevas de San Marco 575, Yunquera 558, Riogordo 624, torrox 562, Ojen 703, Villanueva de la Concepcion 819, Algatocin 504, Montejaque 622 and Pizarra 888.

27-01-2020 Additional 8 municipalities in Malaga province move to Level 4 Grade 2 and close all except essential commerce.  Additionally another 13 municipalities in Malaga province in Level 4 Grade 1 and will join the other 29 to close their perimeters.   

Lists for the all provinces can be seen here. Almería and Cadiz, Córdoba and Granada, Huelva and Jaen, Málaga and Sevilla.

01-02-2021 Thirty one municipalities in Andalucia actually opened their perimeters Monday 01-02-2021. These are the ones that closed their perimeters on the 17-01-2021 and their AI(14d) infection rate has now reduced to below 500. 

02-02-2021 The number of municipalities that will be close on 00.01 on Wednesday 03-02-2021 increases slightly. Those with closed perimeters increases from 539 to 541 (of a total of 785) including the eight cities. Those closing all non essential activity increases from 272 to 302, this will include Malaga city and Almeria city.

03-02-2020 The number of positive Coronavirus tests and hospital admissions in Andalucia had decreased during December with a low-point on Christmas Day. The upturn is now known as the third wave. The number of positive tests has overtaken the second wave. The rate has slowed since 17-01-2021, the seven day rolling average peaked on 27-01-2021 and the number of cases has dropped in the last three days. The number of hospital admissions overtook the second wave peak on 17-01-2021. It is  still increasing (following the usual week to 10 days lag on cases) but the rate has now dropped slightly. 

08-02-2020 In data released Monday afternoon by the Instituto de Estadistica y Cartografia de Andalucia the AI(14d) rates of following towns on the Costa del Sol are below in brackets. Unless the system changes (see below) this means that on Wednesday:

Benahavís remains open but surrounded by closed municipalities. Benalmádena remains perimeter closed. (730). Casares remains closed (1.075). Estepona remains closed (1.015). Fuengirola remains perimeter closed (690). Istán opens but surrounded by closed municipalities (468). Manilva opens business but remain perimeter closed. (930). Marbella remains closed (1.066). Mijas remains perimeter closed (735). Ojén remains perimeter closed until it completes 14 days (943). Torremolinos remains perimeter closed (526). Malaga city remains closed until it completes 14 days (864).

08-02-2021 The graph above has been updated with al data obtained at the weekend and will be revised when official statistics are published, usually mid-day but there are currently having server issues. These will also indicate the revised status of towns, including many on Costa del Sol, that have been peremiter or commerce closed for the last two weeks. This change would normally take place on Wednesday, however Juanma Moreno, President of the Junta de Andalucia said whilst 'opening' the new hospital in Estepona on Monday morning that a new system of weekly changes would be implimented. He also mentioned that the AI(14d) rate for Andalucia was now 776, down from 851 on Friday.

13-02-2020 Estepona, Marbella, Malaga city and 12 towns in Malaga province opened bars restaurants and shops until 18.00 hrs. Sale of spirits and fortified wines from supermarkets and shops is now prohibited in Andalucia after 18.00 hrs in line with closure of cafes and restaurants. The next revision of municipal closures will on stats published on Thursday 18th to take effect Saturday 20-02-2021.

19-02-2021 The list is now published in BOJA of towns that will still have perimeter closed for another week. On the Costa del Sol are Marbella (639), Estepona (759), Manilva (665), Ojen (550). Towns that will now open their perimiters on Saturday are Malaga city, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Alhaurin de la Torre and Casares. Torremolinos, Istan, Benahavís remain open. Andalucia wide 132 towns have their perimeters closed newt week, 161 less than this week. 29 are closed for all but essential business. BOJE

13-02-2020 Estepona, Marbella, Malaga city and 12 towns in Malaga province opened bars restaurants and shops until 18.00 hrs. Sale of spirits and fortified wines from supermarkets and shops is now prohibited in Andalucia after 18.00 hrs in line with closure of cafes and restaurants. The next revision of municipal closures will on stats published on Thursday 18th to take effect Saturday 20-02-2021.

20-02-2021 Towns that opened their perimiters on Saturday were Malaga city, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Alhaurin de la Torre and Casares. Torremolinos, Istan, Benahavís remain open. Andalucia wide 132 towns have their perimeters closed newt week, 161 less than this week. 29 are closed for all but essential business. BOJE

04-03-2021 The number of cases and hospital admissions continues to drop in Andalucia. Assuming this continues in a few days Andalucia will have returned to the 'low' position it was on Christmas Day between the second and third waves. The IA(14d) rate for Andalucia at 144 has now dropped below the Spanish average of 160 which is also falling.

05-03-2021 Andalucia parliament has approved a plan for mass vaccination. The plan includes using 747 locations including large spaces such as football fields and bullrings. It also includes volunteer helpers. This plan is to have the potential to administer up to 500.000 doses a week. Of course the actual rate will depend on the rate of delivery from the EU. Best estimates for this are not published. Does the Andalucia government have access to delivery estimates not in the public domain? The Andalucia health councilor Jesús Aguirre, said in parliament on 04-03-2021 that 'until April or May' deliveries will not be sufficient to cover the plan'. A quick calculation based on current rates to end of May and then 450k per week thereafter will complete the vaccination of all Andalucia end of January 2022.

05-03-2021 Very slight adjustment to the restriction take effect from Friday 05-03-2021. Meeting of six people inside or outside will be permitted (it was four) except for the inside of restaurants which remains at four per table. Additionally in towns that are in Level 2 bars/cafe/restaurants and shops can open until 21.30 hrs where it is generally still 18.00 hrs. The municipality in Level 2 were revised and effective from 05-03-2021 include those in health districts in most of Huelva, Seville Cordoba and Jaén provinces. It also includes Malaga city but not Costa del Sol. See beige area on Andalucia map above.

The municipalites with closed perimeters was also revised effective from 05-03-2021. In Malaga province these are Archez, Benaoján, Montejaque, in Cadiz Alcalá del Valle and there are another 23 in the rest of Andalucia.

12-03-2021 Weekly update on the health districts and levels of protection measures .

19-03-2021 Modification to the Coronavirus measures were introduced Friday. These cover the Easter period until 09-04-2021. The curfew will be from 23.00 hrs to 06.00. Bars, cafes, restaurants, shops and business can stay open until 22.30 hrs. Meeting of 6 person permitted outdoors and 4 indoors. The border closure of Andalucia and its 8 provinces will continue.

The rules on municipalities closing borders at 500 cases AI(14d) rate and business at 1.000 AI(14d) rate continue. There are five excptions to the movement rules; work obligations, taking exams or official tests, returning to a normal place or residence, caring for elderly and medical tests.

23-03-2021 Spanish Government announced that it was lifting the restrictions on arrivals from the UK from 01-04-2021. Since 22-12-2020 only Spanish nationals and foreign residents have been permitted to enter Spain by air or sea. The restrictions were introduced to control the spread of the British strain of the virus.

British government has announced that its new Covid regulations to come into force on 29-03-2021 will include travel abroad to 'buy, rent, let out or sell a second home' as a justifiable reason to leave England.

26-03-2021 Weekly update on the health districts and levels of protection measures.

Note the levels on the Andalucia map above or look up the status and the level of measures in force in any any town or village in Andalucia check the interactive map at the top of our Four levels page.

29-03-2021 British government's new Covid regulations came into force. They include travel abroad to 'buy, rent, let out or sell a second home' as a justifiable reason to leave England.

30-03-2021 A new National law came into force requiring the wearing of facemasks for all those 6 yrs and over in all indoor and outdoor public places including streets and open spaces. Exceptions being medical reason, individual sport. The measures were already required in Andalucia.

31-03-2021 Spanish Government has lifted the special 'British Covid strain' restrictions on arrivals from the UK from 18.00 hrs 30-03-2021. Since 22-12-2020 only Spanish nationals and foreign residents had been permitted to enter Spain by air or sea. However while the restrictions were in force the UK Brexit transition period ended (31-12-2020) and UK now comes under Spain's worldwide Covid arrival regulations. Therefor only those who can demonstrate through documentary evidence an essential need to enter Spain will according to the regulations be admitted. The permitted list of reasons is listed on the UK Gov Travel Advice Spain.

08-04-2021 A new National law came into force on 30-03-2021 requiring the wearing of face-masks for all those 6 yrs and over in all indoor and outdoor public places including streets and open spaces. Exceptions being medical reason, individual sport. The measures were already required in Andalucia. Following push-back from the regions this was modified to deem bathing in sea, lake, river or swimming pool as incompatible with masks. During a 'moment of rest' before and after bathing (or water sports) does not require masks as long as the person is stationary and maintains a minimum 1.5m distance from other persons not in their bubble.

19-04-2021 As you can see from the orange line on graph above of the number of cases (presented in a rolling 7 day format to smooth daily spikes and weekend reporting lag) is bouncing around as if there is a background level that cannot be reduced.

19-04-2021 Those who are not registered in the Andalucia Health Service, such as those resident with private health insurance, should register to be included in the COVID-19 vaccination programme. You can simply download a PDF application form and take it to your local health centre. If you have a digital signature you can also submit the form online.

If you are already registered with the Andalucia Health Service, you can (with a digital certificate) check your details online to ensure your phone number is up to date. You do so online at ClicSalud+ if you have a digital certificate.

27-04-2021 Update to Coronavirus measures announced by Juanmar Moreno, Andalucia President on television that from Thursday 29-04-2021 (00.01hrs). The Andalucia border remains closed, however people can travel between the 8 Andalucia provinces; Malaga, Seville, Granada, Cadiz, Huelva, Cordoba and Jéan. Almost everything else remains the same, the curfew is still 23.00 to 06.00. Business and bars bars close at 22.30 but restaurants can stay open to 23.00 in all areas as long as the clients are home by 23.00. Measures will continue until 09-05-2021 when the State of Alarm ends and new laws/regulations that are still to be determined will apply.

05-05-2021 Andalucia President, Juanma Moreno announced on Tuesday "We are going to approve a new plan to vaccinate 1 million a week. We just need the vaccine to arrive." (The current plan is 500k). The statement was mocked on social media for the obvious condition. However he must have known something. That evening Sanidad in Madrid published that record 593.260 doses were delivered; half Astra Zenica, half Pfizer and nearly double the previous weeks delivery. See Andalucia vaccine statistics below.

Salud also announced on Tuesday evening that "This week we will give appointments to 59 and 58 year olds to receive their first dose. Actually those born in 1963 and 1962.

06-05-2021 Now that the provincial borders are open don't forget that some villages are still closed as their AI(14d) rates are above 500. Closed villages are mainly in Granada, Jaén and Seville provinces. Further villages in the chart above have rates greater than 1.000 AI(14d) so commercial activity is halted as well.

07-05-2021 UK will allow citizens to take holidays abroad from 17 May have placed twelve countries and territories including Portugal, Israel and Gibraltar are on the first 'green list of destinations'. People returning from those places will NOT have to quarantine. Spain, France and Greece are Amber list countries - from which people will have to quarantine at home upon their return to UK and "people should not be travelling there yet either" said UK Government minister Grant Shapps.

09-05-2021 The state of alert has ended and central government policy was not to renew this, requiring the regional governments to undertake future measures. Andalucia is doing this in three phases. The first called Stabalisation is until the 31-05-2021. There is no curfew and no restrictions on meetings. Wearing face-masks continues to be obligatory.  The Andalucian border and the eight provincial perimeters are now open to travellers. Only larger villages (population over 5.000) with AI(14d) rates over 1.000 will have perimeter closed; a specific court order is required for this.

The restrictions will be progressively reduced in a new system with each municipality within four levels of Alert. Low with AI(14d) less than 50, Medium with AI(14d) less than 150. High with AI(14d) less than 250 cases and Extreme with AI(14d) greater than 250.

Bars/cafés/restaurants can be open until midnight with up to 8 clients at interior tables and 10 on exterior tables. Pubs (bars with music licence) open to 02.00 with same table number restrictions. Discos can open (except in level Extreme towns) and in level Low towns dancing is permitted in the exterior and with face-mask.

At concerts, cinemas, theatres and bullfights in level Low and Medium level towns, empty seats must be kept between groups. In High and Extreme level towns, 1.5m separation must be maintained between groups. The venues will study the rules carefully and consult those already in the weekly updates for the levels of protection measures .

On beaches and at swimming pools there are no general time restrictions. A minimum social distance of 1.5m must be maintained between groups. Town halls may issue special rules as they did in the summer of 2020.

At celebrations a permitted capacity is between 50 and 300 people inside, and 75 to 500 people outside; depending on the level of the town. As restaurants , up to 8 people may be seated at interior tables and 10 on exterior tables.

11-05-2021 Reyes Maroto, Spain's Tourism Minister speaking at a forum in Alicante today said "We are working with the UK travel industry to reactivate (holidays) as soon as possible and that the British choose Spain for their summer holidays" She hoped it would be as soon as 20th May. This is a reference to changes being prepared by the EU in respect of non-essential travel from Non-EU countries. A draft reads "Member States should permit travel to the EU for people that have received their final vaccination dose (of an UE authorised vaccine) at least 14 days prior to travel." PCR tests will not be required.

The Spanish travel industry was naturally disappointed with UK including Spain on the amber list. However if we look at one metric such as the AI(14d) Spain is 162 an has a long way to go to reach Portugal's 40 or UK's 25. The minister is no doubt trying to persuade the UK to take a regional approach in the next traffic light update. She announced this at a conference in Valencia region where the rate is currently 31. Follow the regional rates levels of protection measures.

21-05-2021 Travelers from the UK & Japan will be able to freely enter Spain from Monday 24-05-2021 with no restrictions and no coronavirus test. Speaking at the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in English that the country “will be delighted to receive British tourists again in our country”. There is currently no quarantine either on entrance to Spain just a health form to complete. Those returning to the UK are currently (while Spain remains on the amber list) required to present -ve PCR tests and quarantine at home for 10 days. More form El Pais in English.

07-06-2021 New rules come into force for those entering Spain by air or sea. Passengers arriving from a country / zone of risk must have a valid health certificate. Which can be: A COVID19 vaccination certificate, A certificate of SARSCoV2 diagnostic test with negative result, carried out within 48 hours before arrival in Spain (PCR or Antigen). A COVID-19 recovery certificate. These certificates can be added to the obligitory health entry form found at  www.spth.gob.es or the SpTH app, to obtain a QR code to be shown upon entry. More detailed info

Travelers from the UK & Japan have been able to freely enter Spain since Monday 24-05-2021 with no restrictions and no coronavirus test. Speaking at the Fitur tourism fair in Madrid, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in English that the country “will be delighted to receive British tourists again in our country”. There is currently no quarantine either on entrance to Spain just a health form to complete. Those returning to the UK are currently (while Spain remains on the amber list) required to present negative PCR tests and quarantine at home for 10 days. More from El Pais in English.

21-06-2021 Pedro Sánchez, prime minister, anounced last week. "We are going to have a special cabinet meeting next Thursday to propose that it will not be obligatory to wear facemasks (in Spain when social distance can be guarenteed) from Saturday 26-06-2021. Andalucía President said at the weekend that Andalucia will recommend (although not oblige) the wearing of a face mask in public in case the rate of the spread of the disease increases. 

As you can see from the graph above there is a level trend at the monent in cases in Andalucia. These have been constant for the last three weeks. 1.200 cases per day is average.. As a reference the third wave peak in January was 7.995 and fourth (little) wave peak in April was 2.584.

The number of cases diagnosed in the last 14 days per 100,000 populations in Spain is now 96 (the previous low was 128 on 16-03-2021, the third wave peak was 890 on 29-01-2021, the second wave peak was 595). In Andalucia the rate is 177 the highest of all the 17 regions. (the recent low was 128 on 24-03-2021, third wave peak which was 959 on 01-02-2021, the second wave peak was 580 and between them a low of 135 on Christmas day).  See updated chart of case rates for all 17 regions at the foot of our Confirmed Cases page.

22-06-2021 Malaga residents will not be able to spend the Night of San Juan on the beach for the second consecutive year. Malaga City Council will close the beaches 22.00 hrs on June 23 until 08.00 on June 24.   Marbella is also closing its beaches between midnight and six in the morning,

Benalmadena and Estepona are not actually closing beaches but not organising any official activity such as bonfires or music and people will not be permitted to light bonfire nor Moraga’s. San Juan is normally the only night of the year on which by-laws explicitly permit bonfire on the beach.

Casares council has chosen to hold an event with the traditional bonfire on Playa Ancha. A concert will proceed the bonfire with the Malaga band 'Alejados', playing a tribute to the 80s band 'El último de la fila'.     The wearing of masks is mandatory, and groups of more than ten people will not be allowed. Attendees may not be closer than three meters from the stage or the bonfire and must maintain a social distance of one and a half meters. The activities will end just after the burning of the bonfire, at midnight.

23-06-2021 The Comités territoriales de Alerta de Salud Pública de Alto Impacto (Territorial committees of High Impact Public Health Alert) of the eight Andalusian provinces met again 23-06-2021. Only two municipalities in Andalucia (Cantillana and Herrerahave in Seville province) have closed perimeters and closure of non-essential activity having exceeded 1,000 accumulated incidence cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the perimeters of the following municipalities. The alert levels were also updated by health districts as seen on the map above. For comparison here is last weeks map.

25-06-2021 This weeks vaccine delivery to Andalucia of 1.033.280 doses was a large increase on last weeks delivery of 499.920 or the previous week's delivery which at 812.040 doses was a previous high. The current rate of administration has increased inline with increased deliveries to about 117.000 (based on average over last week) per day. At this daily rate, it would take 84 days to vaccinate (two doses) all Andalucia.

26-06-2021 As from last Saturday wearing a facemasks is not mandatory outdoors in Spain, only when 1.5m social distance can be guaranteed. People must carry a mask at all times in case it is required; in anticipation of outdoor crowds or when going indoors such as shops, offices, restaurants and public transport. Facemasks are still obligatory for large outdoor events such as concerts, demonstrations, and sporting events. Andalucia still recommends the wearing of masks outdoors but it in not an obligation.

29-06-2021 Any British tourist travelling to Spain from 01-07-2020 will need to present certificate of negative Covid-19 test or a certificate of vaccination. In an apparent U-turn on the special arrangement in place since 24-05-2021 as anounced by Pedro Sanchez to the tourist industry at the FITUR trade fair. Full details are awaited but UK traveller are expected to come under the rules that came into force on 07-06-2021 (see below) for those entering Spain by air or sea.

01-07-2021 Costal del Sol prepares for the peak arrival of tourists during the first weekend in July. Málaga-Costa del Sol airport predicts 364 flight arrivals (perhaps tow thirds international) between Thursday and Sunday. Renfe have programmed seven AVE trains from Madrid to be double length; an increase of 2.300 seats. The total number of AVE arrivals (and departures) at Malaga will be 40 trains.

01-07-2021 The Mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre, hhas announced that the Feria de Málaga "will be in September", "In Auguest it will not be". Other towns are either cancelling the summer fairs or holding smaller events.

02-07-2021 From 2 July, the Spanish government requires all arrivals to Spain from the UK to present on entry one of the following: a negative COVID-19 test; or proof of vaccination. Read UK government’s understanding of the entry rules currently in place.

02-07-2021 As can be seen from the graph above there is now a visible increase over the levelling out of confirmed cases seen over the last few weeks in Andalucia. On Friday (02-07-2021) there were 2.004 cases  (reported in previous 24 hrs) this being the fourth daily increase. The June averge was 1.200 cases per day in the range of 631 to 1.637.  As a benchmark the third wave peak in January reached 7.995 and fourth (little) wave peak on 8th April reached 2.584.

Hospital admissions are not currently rising. The Andalucia health minister has made a point of suggesting that it is the hospital admissions, rather the cases that should be watched. The rationale is that cases are now predominately in the younger age groups who generally experience less symptoms. Hopefully he is correct, we will know in two weeks.

There has certainly been a shift of positive tests in Andalucia towards the younger age groups. In the last 14 days 39% of cases were in the 15-29 age group compared to 21% since the start of the pandemic. In the last 14 days 16% of cases were in the 46-64 age group compared to 29% since the start of the pandemic.

02-07-2021 Several papers (in UK) this morning confirming the talk of #Westminster - that 26 July is the target date from which the fully-jabbed will be able to avoid quarantine when returning from Amber zones. This would save family holidays, something Ministers are keen to protect. Source: @ThePCAgency 

03-07-2021 Only limited statistics are realeased at the weekend. Number of confirmed cases in 24hrs up to midday Saturday is 1.942. Next update expected noon Monday.

07-07-2021 Andalucia has administered 8.003.258  doses since the beginning of the campaign of which 3.404.882 are second or single dose vaccinations. This represents 46% of population (over 12yrs) fully vaccinated and 64% with at least one dose. 1.117.550 doses were included in this weeks Monday/Tuesday delivery (05/06-07-2021) a record delivery.

08-07-2021 Grant Shapps has told MPs that fully vaccinated (two doses from UK NHS plus 14 days) UK residents arriving in England from amber travel list destinations (including Spain) will no longer have to quarantine from 19 July at 04.00 hrs. They will, however, still need PCR tests before boarding and on day 2 after their return. Under-18s returning from amber list places would also be exempt from quarantine.

British tourist travelling to Spain (since 01-07-2020) need to present certificate of vaccination or certificate of negative Covid-19 test. Full details come under the rules that came into force on 07-06-2021 (see below) for those entering Spain by air or sea.

08-07-2021 The Comités territoriales de Alerta de Salud Pública de Alto Impacto (Territorial committees of High Impact Public Health Alert) of the eight Andalusian provinces met again 07-07-2021. The alert levels were updated. The map above shows Costa del Sol, Guadalhorse, Malaga city, Seville city and Seville east health district have moved up into level 2.

The changes from level one to level two make very little practical difference to the public. Businesses need to modify their capacity limits slightly. For example: restaurants will be 6 instead of 8 per table inside and 8 instead of 10 outside. Shops reducing from 100% capacity to 75%. Check the details of the four levels on our summary table.

One municipalities in Andalucia (Peal de Becerro in Jaen province) have closed perimeters and closure of non-essential activity

09-07-2021 The UK Foreign Office has removed its travel advisary warning for Spain and more than 20 countries against all non-essential travel. “The FCDO no longer advises against all but essential travel to Spain, based on the current assessment of Covid-19 risks” Source. This means that standard travel insurance policies are no longer invalidated, and package holidays can go ahead.

15-07-2021 The Comités territoriales de Alerta de Salud Pública de Alto Impacto (Territorial committees of High Impact Public Health Alert) of the eight Andalusian provinces met again 14-07-2021. The alert levels were updated. The map above shows increase in yellow Level 2 areas which now includes all Malaga province except Serrania de Ronda district, and the cities of Seville, Cadiz, Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Jaén.

The changes from level one to level two make very little practical difference to the public. Businesses need to modify their capacity limits slightly. For example: restaurants will be 6 instead of 8 per table inside and 8 instead of 10 outside. Shops reducing from 100% capacity to 75%. Check the details of the four levels on our summary table.

16-07-2021 Tarifa Live Festival has been cancelled. The first edition of a wide ranging series of summer concerts organised by the Town Hall has been cancelled. Concerts were due take place in open air football stadum with seated and social distancing rules. Last weekend The concerts on 9 July 2021 Malamanera Tarifa and 10 July Nathy Peluso were cancelled due to high wind.  Last night the organisors announced that following instructions from Junta de Andalucia due to the high Coronavirus rates in Tarifa; over 1.000 AI(14d) the remaining series was 'posponed until next year'.

18-07-2021 The Andalucia Health Minister, Jesús Aguirre said on Friday 16-07-21 that he trusts that hospital pressure will not increase to the same extent that the spread of the virus. Let’s hope he is correct. Watch the green line on the graph above each day (except Sunday) to find out.

The Minister also made a little reported remark at the presentation, mentioning that he was concerned that 358.124 people over 40 had not received a vaccine.  

Analysing the age breakdown of persons who have received one dose on our Vaccination page, we note that 98% of over 60 years have already received the first dose. However only 92% of the 50 to 59 year olds and 82% of the 40 to 49 year olds have received the first dose. At first glance this looks fine, but back checking the stats from two weeks ago reveals little progress on these two age groups; increasing by just 2% and 7% respectively. This is at the stage when the main vaccination focus has moved on to appointments for the under 40 years.

This is the first time there has been an mention of non-vaccination rates since 10-01-2021 when he reported that ‘1.57% of people had refused the vaccine offered’.

20-07-2021 From today those 23 years or older (born in 1994 or before) can now book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre.

21-07-2021 The Mayor of Malaga Francisco de la Torre now has announced that the Malaga "Feria 2021 is not going to take place", solemn words considering that at the beginning of July his words were "will be in September - in Auguest it will not be". Most towns (with the exception of Estepona) have either cancelled their summer fairs or are holding smaller events.

22-07-2021 Since last Tuesday those 23 years or older (born in 1994 or before) can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. More practical details on our Vaccination page. Andalucia President, Manuel Moreno announced today in Parliament that from next week 16 year olds will be able to book vaccine appointments and in August 12 year olds.

22-07-21 The Junta de Andalucía is establishing a curfew from next Sunday 25-07-2021 between 02.00 and 07.00 in municipalities above 5.000 inhabitants whose AI(14d) rate is above 1.000. The measure needs to be ratified by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (TSJA).

Based on statistics published on 20-07-2021 the towns that will need to establish this curfew are Marbella (1.028) and Conil de la Frontera (1.102), Tarifa had been expected to be included but had dropped to 973. Angeles Muñoz, Mayoress of Marbella complained that the calculation was ‘not real’ as it was based on the resident population whereas the population in Marbella in the summer is perhaps three times greater. In a similar situation Juan Manuel Bermúdez, Mayor of Conil de la Frontera had written to central government on 09-07-2021 requesting a curfew to be decreed as this had been refused by Junta de Andalucia.

La Junta de Andalucía will also instruct the town halls in level 2, 3 or 4 areas to close their beaches from Thursday 22-07-21 at night from 23.00 to 07.00 hrs. This includes all Costa del Sol and most of the beaches of Andalucia, except Almeria province. The night closeure can be seen as the yellow area on the map above. bove. Excluded are individual activities such as fishing, and group activities such as beach bars.

There are also minor modifications to the four levels of protection measures established on 07-05-2021 after the end of the state of alert effective from Thursday 22-07-2021. These include capacity of restaurants has been modified; At interior tables no more than four may be seated. (Exterior terrace table capacities remain unchanged; 10 people per table in level one areas and 8 in level two).

23-07-2021 Marbella and Conil will have to wait for their curfew. The Territorial committees met again Thursday afternoon since the AI(14d) rates published at midday for Marbella and Conil had dipped just below 1.000, the regional government will not be seeking a curfew this week. Angeles Muñoz, Mayoress of Marbella had complained that the calculation was ‘not real’ anyway as it was based on the resident population whereas the population in Marbella in the summer is perhaps three times greater. In a similar situation but opposite reaction Juan Manuel Bermúdez, Mayor of Conil de la Frontera had written to central government on 09-07-2021 requesting a curfew to be decreed as this had been refused by Junta de Andalucia.

27-07-2021 From today those 18 years or older in 2021 can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. More practical details on our Vaccination page. Andalucia President, Manuel Moreno announced last week in Parliament that from this week 16 year olds will be able to book vaccine appointments and in August 12 year olds.

28-07-2021 UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps announced that people who are fully vaccinated in the EU or US will not need to isolate when coming to England, Scotland and Wales from an amber list country. The change will come into force at 04:00 BST on Monday 02-08-21. The final vacccine dose administered at least 14 whole days before arrival. Travellers will still need to take either a lateral flow or PCR test pre-departure and a PCR test on the second day after they arrive.

29-07-21 The Junta de Andalucía is applying for a curfew between 02.00 and 07.00 hrs in Estepona and Marbella and Montoro (Cordoba). These are the municipalities above 5.000 inhabitants whose AI(14d) rate is above 1.000. The measures will not come into force until ratified by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (TSJA) probably from next Sunday 01-08-2021 morning.

30-07-21 The curfew between 02.00 and 07.00 hrs in Estepona, Marbella and Montoro (Cordoba) for one week has been ratified by the Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Andalucía (TSJA). It became effective the day following publication in the BOJA (regionial gazette) on Friday evening which was Saturday 01-08-2021 morning from 02.00 to 07.00 hrs giving a few hours to organise. The usual exceptions apply such as work, legal obligationis. Estepona, Marbella and Montoro were the municipalities above 5.000 inhabitants whose AI(14d) rate was above 1.000 the previous Wednesday.

02-08-2021 Fully vaccinated (two doses from UK NHS or EU or USA plus 14 days) travellers arriving in UK from non red list travel list destinations (including Spain) will no longer have to quarantine. They will, however, still need PCR tests before boarding and on day 2 after their return. Under-18s returning from amber list places would also be exempt from quarantine.

03-08-21 The Junta de Andalucia is asking the regional High Court to authorize a resolution that will only permit access to the inside night clubs to those that present the EU Digital Covid Certificate or a negative coronavirus test result (either antigen or PCR). The measure does not affect bars and restaurants open during the day. The initiative will start at midnight on August 5 if the court approves. In the Canary Islands the regional High Court has provisionally suspended a similar move. In Galicia this proof is already required at bars and restaurants.

04-08-2021 From today those 15 years or older in 2021 can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. More practical details on our Vaccination page.

05-08-21 The eight Territorial committees met again Wednesday and has decided this to impose a curfew and restrict freedom of movement at night from 2:00 a.m. to 7:00 a.m. in eight Andalucian municipalities for having exceeded a thousand cases of accumulated incidence of Covid -19 per 100,000 inhabitants. Conil de la Frontera and Paterna de Rivera, in the province of Cádiz; Punta Umbría (Huelva); Mengíbar (Jaén); Campillos (Málaga) and Marchena, Tocino and El Cuervo (Seville). The Superior Court of Justice of Andalusia (TSJA) will need to ratify the decision which will most likely come into effect on Thursday or Friday night.

Marbella, Estepona and Montoro (Córdoba) will no longer be under Curfew from Thursday 05-08-2021 a decree that was applied on July 29, since they have dropped from one thousand cases of incidence.

05-08-21 The eight Territorial committees met again Wednesday and has made no changes. All Cordoba and Malaga province remain in Level 3. All other areas of Andalucia remain in level 2. In all levels restaurants in must limit capacity to 4 per table inside and 6 outside for level 3 (Malaga and Cordoba) and 8 outside for level 2 (rest of Andalucia). They must close at midnight although terrace may remain open until 01.00. See Levels of protection measures .

05-08-21 The Junta de Andalucia is asking the regional High Court to authorize a resolution that will only permit access to the inside night clubs to those that present the EU Digital Covid Certificate or a negative coronavirus test result (either antigen or PCR). The measure does not affect bars and restaurants open during the day. The initiative was due to start at midnight on August 5 but court approval is still awaited. In the Canary Islands the regional High Court has provisionally suspended a similar move. In Galicia this proof is already required at bars and restaurants.

06-08-21 The regional High Court declined the request by the Junta de Andalucia to authorize a resolution that will only permit access to the inside night clubs to those that present the EU Digital Covid Certificate or a negative coronavirus test result In the Canary Islands the regional High Court has provisionally suspended a similar move. In Galicia this proof is already required at bars and restaurants.

09-08-2021 From last Friday those 12 years or older ( dob in 2009 or before) can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. More practical details on our Vaccination page.

19-08-21 The eight Territorial committees met again Wednesday and has revised the Levels in Andalucia. All provinces improve or remain at Level 2 with northern Almeria improving to Level 1. See Levels of protection measures .

02-09-21 From today Andalusia has extended the opening of bars and restaurants until 2:00 hrs with services until 01.00 this Thursday. Nightclubs can remain open until 03:30 but only dancing outside with mask in Level one areas as marked in green on the map above. So dancing in Nerja tonight but not from Malaga to Marbella and Estepona. Ice cream parlours, chocolate shops may also open until 02:00 hrs but without serving alcoholic beverages after 01.00 hrs. Theme parks, water parks, fun fairs and children’s playgrounds can also be open until 02.00 hrs.

09-09-21 The eight Territorial committees met again Wednesday and has revised the Levels in Andalucia. All provinces improve to level 1 or remain at Level 2 as seen on the map above. Last week there are minor modifications to the four levels of protection measures established on 07-05-2021 after the end of the state of alert effective from Thursday 02-09-21. These are highlighted below. Full details in Levels of protection measures .

17-09-21 Travelling back to England, todays anouncement by Transport minister Grant Shapps. The international travel traffic light system is being simplified with a single red list, as part of an overhaul of the rules from 4 October. End of green and amber, and hello to RED and ROW - red-list and rest of the world.

Effective 4th October, PCR tests will no longer be required for fully vaccinated travellers returning to England. Under the new testing regime, people who have had both jabs will NOT need to take a pre-departure test before leaving any country not on the red list. And later in October, UK would be able to replace the day two PCR test with a cheaper, rapid lateral flow test. Pre-departure tests will not be needed if you’re double-jabbed.

17-09-21 Travelling back to England, todays anouncement by Transport minister Grant Shapps. The international travel traffic light system is being simplified with a single red list, as part of an overhaul of the rules from 4 October. End of green and amber, and hello to RED and ROW - red-list and rest of the world.

18-09-2021 The Cádiz City Council announced on Tuesday its decision to postpone the 2022 Carnival from February to June. The start of the Official Contest of Carnival Groups will move to April 25. The Cádiz Carnival will take place from June 9 to 19.

27-09-2021 Andalucia received 555k international tourists in July 2021 which was a substantial increase on the 360k in July 2020 and naturally less than the 884k in July 2019. Looking at arrivals from the UK at 70k in July 2021, this was actually less than the 76k of July 2020 and naturally less than the 327k in July 2019. August statistics will be released in mid-October. Full details on our Andalucia Tourism Statistics page.

27-09-2021 The president of the Junta, Juanma Moreno, has anounced on television that many of the current coronavirus restrictions are being eliminated and that presential visites to local health centres are being restored. From Friday 1st October 00.01 hrs:

30-09-21 The eight Territorial committees met again Wednesday and has revised the Levels in Andalucia. About half of Andalucia has improved to Level 0 (no restrictions on business and restaurant hours or capacity) and half including Costa del Sol remain on level 1. Full details in Levels of protection measures.

01-10-21 A return to normality in the municipalities of Andalusia at «low risk» or Level 0 as seen on the map of Andalucia above. In level 0 districts restrictions on capacity and hours in shops and hotels are eliminated. 100% capacity is permitted in theaters, museums, bullrings, concerts and sports competitions. However the use of a face mask is maintained and keeping social distance is still recommended.

06-10-2021 The number of cases and hospitalisations in Andalucia is now down to levels similar to August 2000, and importantly they are dropping not climbing. Andalucia with a AId(14) rate of 36 is again below the Spanish average of 48.

07-10-2021 As can be seen on this weeks map above most areas of Andalucia are classified as «low risk» or Level 0. Costa del Sol and parts of Huelva and Almeria province are at Level 1.

A return to normality in the municipalities of Andalusia at «low risk» or Level 0. Presently no municipality is at this level, all of Andalucia is at level 1. However half of Andalusia is expected to be declared Level 0 by the provincial expert commitees on Thursday.

All restrictions on capacity and hours in shops and hotels are eliminated. 100% capacity will be permitted in theaters, museums, bullrings, concerts and sports competitions, maintaining the use of a mask and the greatest possible interpersonal distance.

14-10-2021 As can be seen on this weeks map above all districts of Andalucia, except east Almeria, are classified as «low risk» or Level 0. The Costa del Sol reaching Level 0 this week.

14-10-2021 The USA has said it will open its borders to fully vaccinated travellers from 33 countries on 8th November 2021. A negative test taken 72 hours before departure will still be required. The list of 33 countries includes Spain and all 26 Schengen counties and the UK and Ireland.

21-10-2021 All Andalucia is now at «low risk» or Level 0. The last remaining level 1 areas were east Almeria. The Costa del Sol reached Level 0 two weeks ago.

The return to normality of «low risk» or Level 0 means restrictions on capacity and business hours return to pre-Covid rules. Social distancing and additional ventilation are recommended.

However the use of a face mask is required inside shops, business, public buildings and transport. Outside face mask is required when social distance can not be maintained and at open air events held in theaters, museums, bullrings, concerts.

16-10-2021 The number of cases and hospitalisations in Andalucia is now down to levels similar to August 2000. Andalucia has a AI (14d) rate of 29 which is Spanish average of 41. The rolling 7day number of cases has increased slightly to 137 on Saturday from a low of 126 last Thursday.

21-10-2021 All Andalucia is now at «low risk» or Level 0. The last remaining level 1 areas were east Almeria. The Costa del Sol reached Level 0 two weeks ago.

22-11-2021 From today all those 65 years and older are being vaccinated with a booster dose. A requirement is that it must be 6 months since the second vaccination or three months if Jannsen. The booster is being carried out with Pfizer vaccine. Over 65 can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. ClicSalud+ is an online admin and appointment system for the Andalucuia health service.

ClicSalud+ is an online admin and appointment system for the Andalucia health service.

Salud responde is a communication channel for the Andalucuia health service. You can download the App called 'Salud responde' or call by telephone on 955 545 060.

Health centre often known as Ambulatorio is the health centre run by the Andalucuia health service and located in most town and districts.

29-11-2021 Travel to UK from Spain. Fully vaccinated (two doses from UK, NHS or EU or USA plus 14 days) travellers arriving in UK from Spain (and other non red list countries) need to book a 'Day 2' PCR test before departure, must self-isolate, take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after you arrive (lateral flow tests will not be accepted) can leave self-isolation if your PCR test result is negative. A UK Government travel locator form must also be completed. Full details on UK Gov website.

06-11-2021 As from 1st December 2021 UK residents travelling for NON Essential reasons can only enter Spain if they have been fully vaccinated. This requirement does not apply to Under 12 year olds or Spanish and EU nationals and their families. Source  UK Gov Advice

23-11-2021 8.300 doses of Astra Zenica were delivered on 23-11-2021. None had previously been delivered since 06-07-2021 and Spain has announced that no more will be purchased and remaining stock donated to Latin Americ,. No Jennsen has been delivered since 03-08-2021. Previous week's deliveries were 200.070, 51.480, 449.280, 0, 0, 0, 128,700, 82,900 541,220 525,450, 496,760, 521,780, 932,290, 684,330, 534,780, 30,880, 406,380, 470,180 1,117,550, 337,270 1,033,280, 499,920, 812,040, 512,820, 282,180, 382,630, 391,130, 593,260, 324,090, 272,710, 260,860, 368,060, 176,250, 117,250, 157,960, 175,430, 178,620 163,300, 133,600 and January's average was 73,000.

The delivery figures of all vaccine makes were suddenly revised on 12-09-2021 downwards by 182.000 doses from 13,657,120 to 13,392,170. No explanation was given. This happened again on 23-09-2021 where Astra Zenica was revised downwards by 74,100 and Janssen by a significant 129,900, their   total delivery being revised from 463,400 to 333,500. Since no deliveries have been made since, this suggests it was an unanounced end to the delivery campaign.

03-12-2021 From today all those 60 years and older are being vaccinated with a booster dose. A requirement is that it must be 6 months since the second vaccination or three months if Jannsen. The booster is being carried out with Pfizer vaccine. Over 65 can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre. ClicSalud+ is an online admin and appointment system for the Andalucuia health service.

ClicSalud+ is an online admin and appointment system for the Andalucia health service.

Salud responde is a communication channel for the Andalucuia health service. You can download the App called 'Salud responde' or call by telephone on 955 545 060.

Health centre often known as Ambulatorio is the health centre run by the Andalucuia health service and located in most town and districts.

06-12-2021 As from 1st December 2021 UK residents travelling for NON Essential reasons can only enter Spain if they have been fully vaccinated. This requirement does not apply to Under 12 year olds or Spanish and EU nationals and their families. Source  UK Gov Advice

07-12-2021 Travel to UK from Spain. Fully vaccinated (two doses from UK, NHS or EU or USA plus 14 days or other approved country vaccine) travellers arriving in UK from Spain (and other non red list countries) need to take a COVID-19 test – to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England book a 'Day 2' PCR test before departure, must self-isolate, take a PCR test before the end of day 2 after you arrive (lateral flow tests will not be accepted) can leave self-isolation if your PCR test result is negative. A UK Government travel locator form must also be completed. Full details on UK Gov website.

17-12-21 The eight Territorial committees met for the first time in two months and has revised the Coronavirus provention levels in Andalucia. About two-thirds of Andalucia has moved form Level 0 to Level 1. At this time the levels are academic as there is no difference in practice between the two levels.

20-12-2021 The Superior Court of Justice of Andalucía (TSJA) has ratified the Andalucia government's request for a Covid vaccination certificate or a negative diagnostic test certificate to be required to enter bars, restaurants and nightlife establishments. This does not apply to open terraces. It does apply to bars, restaurants in hotels. The measure came in to force on Monday 20-12-2021 at 00.01 hrs and will last until 15-01-2022.

A certificate is also required to visit or accompany patients in hospitals or visit residents of care homes in Andalucia.

24-12-2021 In the pre-christmas testing rush the number of cases (positive tests) in Andalucia was 10,328 in the 24hrs up mid-day 24th Dec. This is a record daily high since the pandemic began, the previous high being 7,898 on 30 Jan 2021. Whilst the underlying trend figure is closer to 7.000 and reported testing will dip over the holiday, the rise in cases will likely contine into a post Christmas wave similar to last year.

27-12-2021 In the pre-christmas testing rush the number of cases (positive tests) in Andalucia was 10,328 in the 24hrs up mid-day 24th Dec. This was a record daily high since the pandemic began, the previous high being 7,898 on 30 Jan 2021. However case numbers published on the 27th covering the holiday period were back to 6,622 per day. The underlying trend, as can be seen from the rolling seven day rates in the graph above, is still increasing at an alarming rate and is now higher than peaks of all previous waves. This will likely contine into a post Christmas wave similar to last year.

29-12-21 The eight Territorial committees met again and has revised the Coronavirus provention levels in Andalucia. Malaga, Seville and Cordoba provinces have moved to Level 2 and the remaining provinces are on level 1. At this time the levels are academic as there is no difference in practice between the two levels.

31-12-2021 In the pre-new year testing rush the number of cases (positive tests) in Andalucia was 15,471 in the 24hrs up mid-day 31th Dec. This was a record daily high since the pandemic began, the previous wave high being 7,898 on 30 Jan 2021. The underlying trend, as can be seen from the rolling seven day rates in the graph above, is still increasing at an alarming rate and is now higher than peaks of all previous waves. This will likely contine into a post Christmas/New year wave similar to last year.

Update 01-01-2022: The Government of Morocco suspended all passenger ferries between Spain and Morocco on 13-03-2020 as a measure against the coronavirus. The passenger ferries across the Strait of Gibraltar operated by FRS and Intershipping remain stopped affecting the departures from the port of Algeciras and Tarifa to Tánger Med and Tánger Ville. The measures don't affect freight traffic. The suspension also affects cruise liners. The ferry from Spain to Spanish enclaves in North Africa of Ceuta and Melilla continues, however the land border to Morocco is closed. There are flights between Malaga and Sevilla and Morocco

06-12-2021 As from 1st December 2021 UK residents travelling for NON Essential reasons can only enter Spain if they have been fully vaccinated. This requirement does not apply to Under 12 year olds or Spanish and EU nationals and their families. Source  UK Gov Advice

10-01-2022 Fully vaccinated (two doses from UK, NHS or EU or USA plus 14 days) travellers arriving in the UK from Spain (and other non red list countries) do NOT need to take a pre flight Covid-19 test or self-isolate. Arriving travellers will only need to book a 'Day 2' test. This test can be antigen lateral flow and can be taken at any time from arrival to end of Day 2 (arrival day is day 0). They must also complete the UK Government travel locator form before departure.

These measure remove the need to take a take a pre-departure PCR test and remove the need to self isolate whilst awaiting the result of the day 2 test. Full details on UK Gov website.

13-01-2022 The purchase price of the lateral flow antigen test kit when purchased by a farmacy in Spain has been fixed by the Spanish government at €2.94. This follows period of criticism for high and variable price recently during a shortage.

13-01-22 The eight Territorial committees met again and has revised the Coronavirus provention levels in Andalucia. All provinces are now in Level 2 with the exception of Huelva province in Level 1. At this time the levels are academic as there is no difference in practice between the two levels. All Andalucia requires the use of a face mask is required inside shops, business, public buildings and transport. Outside face mask is required when social distance can not be maintained and at open air events held in theaters, museums, bullrings, concerts.

18-01-2022 All those 46 years and older can book appointment for booster dose. Requirement is that it must be 6 months since the second Pfizer vaccination or three months if Jannsen or AstraZenica. The booster is being carried out with Pfizer vaccine. One can book a vaccine appointment via ClicSalud+, Salud Responde (App or Telephone) or by going to their local health centre.

ClicSalud+ is an online admin and appointment system for the Andalucia health service.

Salud responde is a communication channel for the Andalucia health service. You can download the App called 'Salud responde' or call by telephone on 955 545 060 entering your health service number, a clear automated voice will allocate your appointment. 

Health centre often known as Ambulatorio is the health centre run by the Andalucuia health service and located in most town and districts.

A list of centres offering 'walk in' vaccination in Andalucia can be looked up here.

Residents who do not have a health service number, perhaps becuse they use private health insurance can find info about registration (in Spanish) here

24-01-2021 Changes announced to travel into England rules from 11 February 2022. If you arrive in England after 4am, 11 February, and are fully vaccinated you will not need to take a COVID-19 test before you travel to England or after you arrive. You will not need to quarantine when you arrive. You will still need to complete a passenger locator form before you travel to England.

If you are not fully vaccinated – from 11 February - you will need to:

  • show proof of a negative COVID-19 test – test to be taken in the 2 days before you travel to England.
  • book and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test – to be taken after you arrive in England. You will need to book the PCR test before you travel.
  • complete a passenger locator form before you travel to England.

You will not need to quarantine, unless the result of the PCR test is positive.

28-01-2021 There is now only one municipality in all Andalucia (out of 785) whose residents have not recorded a single case of coronavirus since the start of the pandemic. This is Benitagla (pop 58) in Almeria province. 80% of Benitagla are over 70 years old and actually only 20 to thirty persons live in the village. There are no bars nor shops in the village and neither is there weekly market. "and we hope there never is one", says the Mayor. At the end of last year 

At the end of 2021 there were three other villages still had not recorded a single case since the start of the pandemic at the end of 2021 These were Laroya (pop 198) in Almeria province and two municipalities in Alpujarras of  Granada province;  Carataunas (pop 201) and Cástaras (pop 235).

28-01-2021 The Superior Court of Andalucía, has agreed to Andalucia Governments request to extend until 15-02-22 the requirement for the presentation of a Covid-19 vaccination certificate or negative diagnostic test for access to bars, restaurants and nightclubs. A certificate is also required to visit or accompany patients in hospitals or visit residents of care homes in Andalucia.

10-02-2022 Spanish governemt has ended the mandatory wearing of masks in outdoor spaces including school playgrounds. With the agreemend of the regions, details were published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) Wednesday 09-02-2022 which modified the law (Ley 2/2021, de 29 de marzo). Anybody aged six and older are still obliged to wear masks in the following cases:

In any closed space that is for public use or that is open to the public.
At events that take place in the open-air, when attendees are standing. If they are seated, masks are mandatory when a distance of at least 1.5 metres cannot be maintained, except for people who live together.
In air, bus and rail transport, including platforms and passenger stations, as well as public and private passenger transport in vehicles with up to nine seats, if the occupants do not live at the same address. In the closed spaces of ships and boats when the safety distance of 1.5 metres cannot be maintained, except for people who live together.

14-02-2022 The is now NO requirement to present Covid Vaccination certificates to enter bars/restaurants and hotels as well as visitors to hospitals and residence homes in Andalucia. The Andalucia health minister, Jesús Aguirre, said that the government would not seek a court extension. "The incidence rate is going down and hospital pressure too". In practice many establishment were not enforsing the requirement.

26-03-2022 As travel returns to normality flight routes from Malaga return to near 2019 levels. Málaga airport has currently flights to 23 UK destinations, 70 EU destinations, 17 Spanish destinations and 10 in Morocco, Istanbul and Montreal. See our flights table from Malaga airport and all Andalucia airports.

29-03-2022 Statistics for Andalucia and Spain are now only publish twice a week. It was daily, then last year Sundays were dropped and earlier this year weekends dropped as well. This does not conceal a concerning rise in cases which can be seen on the rolling seven day graph above.

08-04-2022: Following a meeting last night between Pedro Sánchez, Spain's Prime Minister and HRH King Mohamed VI of Morocco there was an agreement to reestblish the "inmediate and gradual" return of passenger ferry traffic accross the Strait of Gibraltar. The agreement also included the orderly opening of the land borders between Morocco and the Spanish North African enclaves of Cueta and Melilla.

The Government of Morocco had suspended all passenger ferries between Spain and Morocco on 13-03-2020 as a measure against the coronavirus. The passenger ferries across the Strait of Gibraltar operated by FRS and Intershipping were stopped affecting the departures from the port of Algeciras and Tarifa to Tánger Med and Tánger Ville. The measures didn't affect freight traffic. The suspension also affects cruise liners. The ferry from Spain to Spanish enclaves in North Africa of Ceuta and Melilla continues, however the land border to Morocco is closed. There are flights between Malaga and Sevilla and Morocco

11-04-2022 Ferries from Algeciras to Tanger Med and Tarifa to Algeciras Town restated on Tuesday 12th April for foot passengers and on Monday 18th for vehicles. Travellers need to have either a Vaccination certificate or a PCR test taken within the previous 72 hrs. The borders at Cueta and Melilla remain closed.

11-04-2022 The #SpTH locator Form is no longer necessary for travel to Spain if you have an NHS COVID Pass or an EU Digital COVID Certificate. Travellers under the age of 12 and passengers in international transit (in Spain) do not have to show a certificate or SpTH QR.

If you do not have the EU Digital COVID Certificate or equivalent NHS Covid Pass, you must complete the SpTH Health Control Form manually entering the details of your vaccination, recovery or diagnostic test certificate. In the case of adults, a complete vaccination certificate will be valid from 14 days after the administration of the last dose and will be valid up to 270 days from the administration of this last dose. The vaccination certificate with complete schedule for children under 18 has no expiry date.

For those requiring test certificates: Sample collection must be performed within 72 hours prior to departure for Spain for NAAT (nucleic acid amplification tests, e.g. RT-PCR, RT-LAMP, TMA) or 24 hours for RAT (rapid antigen test).

For thoseb providing recovery certificate: a person is considered to have recovered from COVID-19 after the disease has passed, provided that more than 11 days have elapsed since the first positive NAAT or RAT was performed, and this recovery shall be valid for 180 days thereafter.

Check the useful new chart provided by Spanish Consulate in Manchester to know which required #COVID19 documents apply to your case.

20-04-2022 From today it is no longer nobligatory to wear masks inside most buildings in Spain. The exceptions are health centres, hospitals, clinics, pharmacias and visitors to care homes. Passengers on trains, buses, taxi and airplanes must still wear a mask in stations, platform or airports.

22-05-2022 Non vaccinated tourists can now enter Spain with a negative COVID-19 test: either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure

01-06-2022 Official Data by INE for 4 months up to April 2022 released today recorded 2.3m international arrivals to Andalucia compared to 3.2m in 2019. When will Andalucia’s international tourism return to pre-pandemic normality?

01-07-2022 In Andalucia there is a very slight increase in Covid cases since the low on 15th June. As seen on the graph above, the number of positive test case in the last 7 days was about 11,510 compared to the low of 5,790. Hospital admissions reported in the last seven days was 520 compared to the low on the 9th June of 347.

30-09-2022 Flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster vaccination schedule 2022/3. From 17 October people aged between 65 and 79 and anyone aged between five years and 64 with chronic illnesses; pregnant women; people who are heavily dependent on others and those who care for them. From 24 October, people aged between 60 and 64 will be included plus members of the armed forces and security forces.

Andalucía began to administer the 4th dose or second booster vaccine in the autumn. David Moreno, director of the strategic vaccination plan said during a radio interview. As with the first booster, priority will be given to the over-60s, vulnerable people, frontline health personnel and nursing home residents.

Reminder that to enter Spain still requires a Vaccination certificate (no locator form is needed). Non vaccinated travellers can enter Spain with a negative COVID-19 test: either a PCR taken within 72 hours prior to departure, or an antigen test taken within 24 hours prior to departure. Non vaccinated travellers must still complete a Spanish locator form. 

It is no longer obligatory to wear masks inside buildings in Spain. The exceptions are health centres, hospitals, clinics, pharmacias and visitors to care homes. Passengers on trains, buses, taxi and airplanes must still wear a mask. A face mask is required on international flights TO Spain.

17-10-2022 From the 17th October 2022 all personas 65 years old or over an receive the second Covid-19 booster and Flu vaccine.

From 21 October 2022, all COVID-19 travel restrictions for travellers to Spain have been lifted. The rules that previously applied to travellers coming to Spain no longer apply:
you are no longer required to show proof of being fully vaccinated
you are no longer required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test
you are no longer required to show proof of having recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months.
you are no longer required to complete a health control form prior to travel.

24-10-2022 From the 24th October 2022 all personas 60 years old or over an receive the second Covid-19 booster.

27-01-2023 From the 7th February it will be no longer necessary to wear a mask on public transport in Spain. It still remains a requirement in health locations such as pharmacy and hospitals.