Protocol for UK tourists who test positive for covid while in Spain?

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 11:27am

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AndrewM

Posts: 46

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Location: Alicante City

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Hi,

I live in Alicante and my brother was due to visit us from the UK today. He started his trip 7 days ago, drove through France, stopped a night in Barcelona and has been staying at a campsite near Tarragona for the last 6 days while doing lots of cycling. Two days ago he took a PCR test just to be on the safe side before visiting us and unfortunately he has just tested positive. Luckily he does not have any symptoms, but he is basically stuck on a campsite alone and not sure what to do.

The UK govt website advises to ring the regional (Catalunya) hotline for covid. Both he and I have rang it several times. We manage to speak to an operator who says they will "put us through" to the covid team, but nobody answers and after a minute or so the line goes dead. We have tried several times now without luck.

We will keep on trying, but it would be useful to know what the protocol is in this situation. Does anybody know?

Thanks

Andrew

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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:37pm

Kimmy11

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Posts: 6870

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Location: Formentera Del Segura

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:37pm

Hi Andrew,

Good to hear that your brother has no symptoms. In the meantime, he's doing what the protocol states:

"Testing positive for COVID-19 while in Spain

"If you are tested and the result is positive, you must self-isolate in your accommodation and call your regional hotline or one of the alternative helpline numbers as set out above. You must remain in your accommodation until contacted by local Spanish authorities. Contact times may vary across regions and can take up to 48-72 hours."

Frustrating that neither of you can get through to the Catalonian hotline, but if your brother develops symptoms, he should ring the emergency number 112 immediately (if he doesn't speak Spanish, he can ask for an English-speaker).

For symptomatic people in the C.Valenciana region, not ill enough to require hospitalisation, we're instructed to self-isolate for 10 days and then take a further test. In the absence of being able to obtain official advice, I'd suggest that's what he should do.

Kind regards,

Kim

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:33pm

AndrewM

Original Poster

Posts: 46

9 helpful points

Location: Alicante City

Joined: 20 Apr 2021

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:33pm

Kimmy11 wrote on Tue Dec 21, 2021 1:37pm:
Hi Andrew,
Good to hear that your brother has no symptoms. In the meantime, he's doing what the protocol states:

Read more...

"Testing positive for COVID-19 while in Spain
"If you are tested and the result is positive, you must self-isolate in your accommodation and call your regional hotline or one of the alternative helpline numbers as set out above. You must remain in your accommodation until contacted by local Spanish authorities. Contact times may vary across regions and can take up to 48-72 hours."
Frustrating that neither of you can get through to the Catalonian hotline, but if your brother develops symptoms, he should ring the emergency number 112 immediately (if he doesn't speak Spanish, he can ask for an English-speaker).
For symptomatic people in the C.Valenciana region, not ill enough to require hospitalisation, we're instructed to self-isolate for 10 days and then take a further test. In the absence of being able to obtain official advice, I'd suggest that's what he should do.
Kind regards,
Kim

Thanks Kim. Still no luck getting through and in any case I don't see how they can help him in any way given the 10 day quarantine guidance. He is now resigned to spending Xmas alone in a tent.

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Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:39pm

Kimmy11

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Posts: 6870

12563 helpful points

Location: Formentera Del Segura

Joined: 8 Aug 2017

Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2021 1:39pm

AndrewM wrote on Wed Dec 22, 2021 12:33pm:
Thanks Kim. Still no luck getting through and in any case I don't see how they can help him in any way given the 10 day quarantine guidance. He is now resigned to spending Xmas alone in a tent.

Hi Andrew,

Poor guy, that wasn't the Christmas you both had planned. I was trying to think of a "silver lining" for him - I've got to admit there aren't many except, perhaps, better to be in a tent in the south of Spain, than the UK? 🙂

Hopefully, he'll continue to be symptom-free and you can get together before the end of the year🤞

Best wishes to you both,

Kim