Spain: Travelers from Brazil and South Africa banned Feb. 3-17 due to variant strains of COVID-19 /update 36

Spain bars travelers from Brazil and South Africa Feb. 3-17 over variant strains of COVID-19; other restrictions remain in place.

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Spain has prohibited travelers from Brazil and South Africa from entering the country by air Feb. 3-17 due to concerns regarding variant strains of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) discovered in those countries. Residents and nationals of Spain and Andorra are exempt from this restriction. Passengers in transit to non-Schengen countries are also exempt, provided they are scheduled to be in Spain less than 24 hours and remain in the airport transit area.

Authorities previously extended an existing ban on air and sea passenger travel with the UK until at least 1800 Feb. 16 to limit the spread of a variant of COVID-19 discovered in the UK. Spanish and Andorran nationals and residents are exempt from the ban, which began Dec. 22.

With regard to other international travel, most arrivals from outside the EEA are prohibited, except for those from Australia, China, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Thailand, and Uruguay. Exceptions are in place for EEA nationals or residents, health care workers, goods and transport workers, other essential workers, students, and those traveling for urgent family reasons. All permitted travelers arriving via air are required to fill out the government's Health Control Form within 48 hours prior to arrival. After filling out the form, travelers will receive a QR Code that they must show at the port of entry. Travelers from countries designated as high risk by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) must possess a negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival. The document must be in Spanish or English and can be submitted in either electronic or paper format. Passengers who attempt to travel without this documentation may be prohibited from boarding by the travel provider. Individuals who arrive in Spain without the negative test result or while displaying COVID-19 symptoms will be required to take a test on arrival. The ECDC updates the country risk assessments on a weekly basis.

Domestic COVID-19 measures also remain in place. A nationwide state of emergency, in effect until at least May 9, empowers the government to limit certain rights guaranteed under the nation's constitution. Accordingly, social gatherings are limited to six people and a 2300-0600 curfew is in effect nationwide. Facemasks are mandatory in enclosed public spaces and in outdoor areas where social distancing cannot be maintained. Where businesses are permitted to remain open, they must implement strict hygiene and social distancing measures.

Regional governments have the authority to amend measures and impose additional restrictions; as a result, curfew hours and limits on social gatherings vary between regions. Additionally, many local jurisdictions have imposed their own entry and exit restrictions, permitting travel out of the locality for essential reasons only. Health officials in Madrid introduced more perimeter-based or inter-regional lockdowns, which now apply to 56 basic health zones and 25 municipalities. Authorities in the Basque Country have sealed off the region's 252 municipalities effective Jan. 25. Some regional authorities require facemasks in all indoor and outdoor public spaces.

Authorities could reimpose, extend, further ease, or otherwise amend any restrictions with little-to-no notice depending on disease activity over the coming weeks.