Spain will require a negative PCR test for visitors from “risk countries”

To date, Spain is close to 40,000 deaths and 1.4 million covid-19 infections.

Spain will require visitors from “risk countries” with a high incidence of the novel coronavirus to have a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours, starting November 23, the Ministry of Health announced on Wednesday 11 November.

All passengers from any of these countries will have to ensure they “have a negative PCR performed within 72 hours of arriving in Spain,” and authorities can request “accreditation of the test result” at any time, he said. a statement from the Ministry.

“Travel agencies, tour operators and air or sea transport companies (…) must inform passengers” of this new requirement, he said.

Until now, international travelers had to complete a health questionnaire before entering Spain and undergo a temperature check.

To determine the “countries at risk” within Europe, the criteria approved by the European Union will be followed, which take into account the cumulative incidence of the virus in fourteen days, the positive rate of the tests and the number of tests performed each 100,000 inhabitants. .

For third countries, the decision will be based on the cumulative impact over fourteen days.

This provision responds to a European recommendation that seeks to standardize measures taken by different EU countries, the ministry said.

At a time when the second wave of pandemic hits Europe, Greece requires a negative PCR in order to enter its territory, Italy requires it from visitors from some countries, while France carries out rapid tests at airports for passengers arriving from non-European countries.

With nearly 40,000 deaths and 1.4 million infections, Spain is one of the European countries most affected by the pandemic.