https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed The Spanish government's health experts have agreed not to review face mask usage on public transport until March 2023, a new report has found, by which stage almost a whole year will have passed since other face mask rules were lifted. https://www.thelocal.es/20221027/face-masks-on-public-transport-in-spain-to-remain-mandatory-until-march-2023 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 12:33:17 +0200 face-masks-on-public-transport-in-spain-to-remain-mandatory-until-march-2023 Spanish authorities have finally decided to stop requiring visitors from non-EU countries such as the UK and the US to provide proof of Covid-19 vaccination, testing or recovery to enter the country.  https://www.thelocal.es/20221020/travel-spain-scraps-covid-19-restrictions-for-non-eu-arrivals Thu, 20 Oct 2022 14:42:34 +0200 travel-spain-scraps-covid-19-restrictions-for-non-eu-arrivals There has been some confusion in the Spanish and English-language press following the announcement this week that Spain has scrapped its Covid health travel form. Here’s what Brits, Americans and other international travellers need to know about Spain’s existing travel restrictions.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220922/fact-check-do-you-still-need-covid-documents-to-travel-to-spain Thu, 22 Sep 2022 11:12:15 +0200 fact-check-do-you-still-need-covid-documents-to-travel-to-spain Spain has further eased its Covid travel restrictions by exempting all third-country nationals from having to fill in its health control form before arriving in the country, a decision which will benefit Americans, Australians and Canadians among other international travellers.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220920/spain-stops-requiring-covid-health-control-form-from-all-travellers Tue, 20 Sep 2022 12:44:33 +0200 spain-stops-requiring-covid-health-control-form-from-all-travellers Spain has extended its entry restrictions for visitors from non-EU countries including the UK until at least November 15th, meaning there are still several documents you need to show before being able to enter. https://www.thelocal.es/20220916/spain-extends-covid-restrictions-for-travellers-from-non-eu-countries Fri, 16 Sep 2022 12:59:08 +0200 spain-extends-covid-restrictions-for-travellers-from-non-eu-countries Spain is currently experiencing an eighth Covid wave. For those who test positive during the summer of 2022, here's a reminder of all the rules and recommendations you need to be aware of, concerning asymptomatic, mild and serious cases. https://www.thelocal.es/20220707/what-are-spains-current-rules-for-asymptomatic-and-mild-covid-cases Thu, 07 Jul 2022 11:43:17 +0200 what-are-spains-current-rules-for-asymptomatic-and-mild-covid-cases The Catalan Health Ministry has introduced a new way of asking for sick leave from work for those with Covid-19 symptoms. The leave will automatically be given for five days, without the need to present a positive test. https://www.thelocal.es/20220706/catalonia-to-give-automatic-five-day-sick-leave-to-people-with-covid-symptoms Wed, 06 Jul 2022 12:49:38 +0200 catalonia-to-give-automatic-five-day-sick-leave-to-people-with-covid-symptoms Spain’s Health Ministry has recommended Spaniards put their masks back on in indoor public settings, calling for "caution" as the seventh coronavirus wave sees cases and hospitalisations rise across the country. https://www.thelocal.es/20220704/spain-calls-for-return-of-face-masks-indoors-as-covid-cases-rise Mon, 04 Jul 2022 14:36:59 +0200 spain-calls-for-return-of-face-masks-indoors-as-covid-cases-rise A resurgence of Covid-19 cases in Europe, this time driven by new, fast-spreading Omicron subvariants, is once again threatening to disrupt people's summer plans. https://www.thelocal.es/20220622/covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Wed, 22 Jun 2022 18:08:14 +0200 covid-subvariants-cast-shadow-over-european-summer Spain’s Health Ministry on Thursday announced there will be a second Covid-19 booster shot offered to all age groups in the country, with the rollout likely to begin this autumn. https://www.thelocal.es/20220616/breaking-spain-to-offer-fourth-covid-19-vaccine-dose-to-entire-population Thu, 16 Jun 2022 16:43:46 +0200 breaking-spain-to-offer-fourth-covid-19-vaccine-dose-to-entire-population EU/Schengen citizens and residents travelling to Spain no longer need to present the EU's Digital Covid Certificate or any other proof of vaccination, testing or recovery to enter the country.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220603/spain-scraps-covid-19-pass-requirement-for-eu-travellers Fri, 03 Jun 2022 11:55:31 +0200 spain-scraps-covid-19-pass-requirement-for-eu-travellers Spain’s Tourism Minister on Thursday announced that “in a matter of days” unvaccinated third-country nationals such as Britons and Americans will be able to travel to Spain for a holiday with proof of a negative Covid-19 test.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220519/spain-to-allow-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-to-enter-in-matter-of-days Thu, 19 May 2022 15:35:09 +0200 spain-to-allow-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-to-enter-in-matter-of-days Britons, Americans and other non-EU/Schengen travellers who are neither vaccinated nor recently recovered from Covid-19 will not be able to visit Spain for tourism for at least another month, Spanish authorities have confirmed. https://www.thelocal.es/20220516/travel-spain-extends-ban-on-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-until-june-15th Mon, 16 May 2022 13:24:16 +0200 travel-spain-extends-ban-on-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-until-june-15th Spain’s Health Minister has said passengers on flights to and from Spain will have to continue wearing face masks inside planes, despite the EU’s recommendation that the rule be lifted on May 16th. https://www.thelocal.es/20220512/spain-rules-out-eus-proposed-end-of-mask-rules-for-flights Thu, 12 May 2022 13:39:49 +0200 spain-rules-out-eus-proposed-end-of-mask-rules-for-flights The mandatory EU-wide mask requirement for air travel is set to be dropped from Monday, May 16th, but airlines may still require passengers to wear masks on some or all flights https://www.thelocal.es/20220511/face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Wed, 11 May 2022 18:17:55 +0200 face-mask-rule-on-flights-in-europe-set-to-be-eased Unvaccinated non-EU tourists such as Brits and Americans still can’t visit Spain while an "orderly and progressive reopening" of the country's borders is being prepared. https://www.thelocal.es/20220430/travel-spain-extends-ban-on-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-until-may-15th Sat, 30 Apr 2022 15:20:30 +0200 travel-spain-extends-ban-on-unvaccinated-non-eu-tourists-until-may-15th After 700 days, Spain has finally said goodbye to the vast majority of its indoor face mask rules, but is the country actually ready to do so? https://www.thelocal.es/20220420/is-spain-ready-to-get-rid-of-masks-indoors Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:27:35 +0200 is-spain-ready-to-get-rid-of-masks-indoors The Spanish Cabinet on Tuesday passed the highly anticipated decree which will allow people in Spain to no longer have to wear face masks in most indoor settings from Wednesday April 20th. https://www.thelocal.es/20220419/spain-approves-law-that-ends-indoor-mask-rule-on-april-20th Tue, 19 Apr 2022 18:04:04 +0200 spain-approves-law-that-ends-indoor-mask-rule-on-april-20th The Spanish government on Wednesday proposed that masks no longer be required in most indoor public settings from Wednesday April 20th 2022, just after the Easter holidays rather than during as had been suggested.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220406/breaking-masks-to-stop-being-mandatory-indoors-in-spain-on-april-19th Wed, 06 Apr 2022 16:21:39 +0200 breaking-masks-to-stop-being-mandatory-indoors-in-spain-on-april-19th From Monday March 28th, people in Spain who test positive for Covid-19 but are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms will no longer be required to quarantine for seven days.  https://www.thelocal.es/20220323/covid-19-spain-scraps-self-isolation-for-asymptomatic-and-mild-cases Wed, 23 Mar 2022 11:14:15 +0100 covid-19-spain-scraps-self-isolation-for-asymptomatic-and-mild-cases