Spain lifts mandatory quarantine for entry of Argentine travelers

Spain will not extend the obligation to comply with a ten-day quarantine for travelers from six countries in Latin America and Africa, including Argentina. The measure was arranged in early August to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Tourists must have vaccines approved by the European regulatory agency, EMA or WHO.

Travelers who have vaccines approved by the European regulator, the EMA and the World Health Organization, can enter without complying with this requirement. On the other hand, those who have received the Sputnik V vaccine will not be able to enter, since they do not have this authorization.

Beneficiary travelers are those with passports from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Namibia and South Africa

As Infobae learned in Madrid, this measure, imposed for the first time on July 23, and which was extended on the 7th instant until midnight 23, will not be renewed by the Ministry of Health of the Spanish government, confirmation that the Argentine and Colombian governments await ratification in the coming hours, countries which have negotiated its lifting.

So far, travelers from six countries – Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Bolivia, Namibia and South Africa – must comply with a ten-day quarantine before entering Spain. Canceling the extension would also hit the health resolution that places Argentina, and other Latin American countries like Colombia, on the assumption that the only passengers admitted are those with European passports, residences in one of the countries of the Schengen area or the few exceptions for diplomatic and aeronautical staff, among other cases on the list for “special” reasons.

Several Latin American countries are considered epidemiologically “high risk”, meaning that arrivals are prohibited beyond travelers with full immunization schedules.

Which vaccines does Spain recognize?

June 7, 2021 has become a key date for “post-pandemic” tourism in Spain. The country has reopened its borders to travelers from third countries vaccinated against Covid-19, with the exception of a list of countries considered to have high circulation of the Sars-CoV-2 virus.

As a requirement, travelers must be vaccinated with the full regimen of any of the medicines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) -Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen- or if they are on the emergency list of the World Health Organization (WHO), to which are added Sinopharm and Sinovac-Coronavac, as evidenced by the ministerial decree published in the Official Journal of the State (BOE) of June 9, 2021.

Beyond the quarantines imposed later, for several Latin American countries and which could fall on Monday, August 23, the admission rule for certain vaccines remains the same.

However, Health of Spain should clarify what will happen with the combination of vaccines, something that has spread to practically in many countries, including in Europe, but especially when the “mixture” of anti-Covid sera includes one that is not accepted by Spain, such as the Sputnik V.

A clue for the opening of the acceptance of new vaccines was given by the European Union a few hours ago. The bloc has just recognized the “health passes” of Turkey, Ukraine and North Macedonia, which, unlike the rest of the bloc, include vaccines such as Sputnik V, Sinovac and Sinopharm, serums which are not approved by the European Medicines Agency. .

However, the regulatory agency has just recalled that Member States could decide to accept these vaccines, a first step until the European regulator decides on an authorization.

Once in Spain, will I be able to travel freely in Europe?

Here the answer has no clear explanation from the health authorities, and is discretionary with regard to the requests that each of the countries that make up the Schengen area will make. It is not even the same if a person travels between countries by land or by plane.

In all cases, the requirement imposed by Brussels for the 27 is the health pass or green pass. It is approved by all members of the block, and travelers can obtain it, regardless of their nationality, when they perform a PCR test or a negative antigen test, at the expense of the tourist, a situation which will allow them to have the QR code they need.

But in addition, this health passport will be required in many countries to enter restaurants, bars, museums, or if they are in Paris to access the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre museum.

In addition to these provisions, which leave a margin of appreciation to the authorities, the income regulations in each of the countries make it known that the risks of traveling in the event of a pandemic must be taken into account, and that the tourist can be overwhelmed with d ” possible restrictions, quarantines, confinements if the health authorities so require. Special travel insurance may also be requested, such as payment by the traveler for any situation resulting from a health problem.

Before embarking on a trip, sites such as www.reopen.europa.es, can be channels for updating the provisions in force in each country, which can be very different or with specific requirements for access to borders.

The recommendation to consult or contact the consulates of each destination before embarking on any travel is an essential requirement. Also keep in mind the limitations of flight availability, as in the case of Argentina, where the government has set a quota of passengers per day, which makes traveling in a “pandemic” a complex or risky situation. .

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