The Official State Gazette (BOE) published on Friday an Order of the Ministry of Health extending the compulsory quarantine requirement for travelers from some southern African countries.
The government explained in a statement that this measure is justified by the emergence of the new Covid-19 variant Omicron in several southern African countries. And it emphasizes that this decision is in line with the policy of the European Union to activate the 'emergency brake' and impose urgent temporary restrictions on all travelers arriving in the EU from these countries.
In practice, the order of the Ministry of Health also includes passengers arriving at any Spanish airport from Malawi and Zambia to the list of travelers who must be subjected to mandatory quarantine.
Therefore, there are already nine countries on that list, which until now included South Africa, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
This mandatory quarantine applies to all travelers coming from these countries, regardless of whether the arriving passengers made intermediate stopovers.
"As on previous occasions, this Order may also be extended if the circumstances giving rise to it continue to exist," the government said in a press release.
10 days quarantine
According to the Ministerial Order, travelers must remain in quarantine for 10 days after arrival, or for the duration of their stay in Spain if it is shorter than 10 days.
This period may end earlier, if on the seventh day the passenger presents proof of a Covid-19 test with a negative result.
During the quarantine period, the people affected must stay in their homes or accommodation places, and must limit their movements and personal contacts with other people to those that are essential (purchases of food, pharmaceutical products and other basic necessities or visits to medical facilities).
All measures of hygiene and prevention of transmission of the disease caused by Covid-19 must be observed both in their movements and in their contact with cohabitants and with those who provide them with goods or services essential to ensure their food, cleanliness and, where appropriate, health care.
