Spain: Hotel locked down on Tenerife (Canary Islands) over COVID-19 concerns February 25

Event

A hotel was locked down on the Spanish island of Tenerife (Canary Islands) on Tuesday, February 25, after a guest, an Italian doctor, tested positive for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on Monday, February 24. The doctor's wife also tested positive for the disease on Tuesday after recently traveling to northern Italy; both have been transported to a hospital isolation ward, and other hotel guests and employees are to undergo testing for COVID-19. Guests at the hotel remain in quarantine as of Tuesday.

Localized transportation disruptions are to be expected in the affected area over the coming hours and days. Further international spread of COVID-19 is to be expected over the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in more than 30 countries and territories worldwide. Virus screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the COVID-19 outbreak is a "very grave threat."

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Individuals traveling to or from the Canary Islands are advised to monitor the situation and confirm travel itineraries.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue; throw the tissue away immediately, if used, and wash hands
• If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider
• Adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and your home government.

In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, individuals are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.