TRAVELLERS to Spain from countries with a recent high incidence of Covid-19 will be required to show a negative PCR test result at the airport – a new move to keep the nation safe from outside contagion without having to place restrictions on visitors.
Although the UK is still one of the countries that requires anyone arriving from Spain, including British residents who have been on holiday there, to quarantine for 14 days – even with a negative PCR – Spain has opted to go down the testing route instead.
Having to quarantine effectively prevents tourism altogether, since it is extra time that a traveller has to take off work as annual leave, unless he or she already works from home, and is also extremely inconvenient as it stops them from carrying out essential errands, like grocery shopping.
But a PCR test showing a visitor or returner does not have the virus is a better guarantee – even after a completely symptom-free quarantine period, the traveller may still be Covid-positive, but asymptomatic and able to pass it onto others, yet if they are known not to have the virus at all, they cannot infect anyone else.
Already, some countries, such as Malta, are requesting travellers from Spain and various other nations take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before arrival, and have the results to hand either in digital or paper format.
Spain has also set the 72-hour criteria, to allow time for results to filter through – any less and the traveller may end up having to cancel a flight if a delay in their reception crops up.
Although it is quite feasible for a person to be tested and then catch the virus before the results arrive, it is recommended that anyone planning to travel makes arrangements to stay as isolated as possible between testing and flying, if they can.
A PCR test takes under a minute, and results are typically sent by email within 24 to 36 hours.
The process is unpleasant, as the swab has to be inserted some considerable distance up the person's nasal passage, but is only in place for 20 seconds, meaning the sensation stops just before it starts to become unbearable – and, in any case, is very worthwhile, since 20 seconds of pain is far less traumatic than the virus itself and far less inconvenient than being unable to travel.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com