EXCLUSIVE: New COVID-19 control zones at Spain’s Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport

Secret Serrania has obtained exclusive pictures of the new COVID-19 control areas that will greet passengers on arrival at the Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport to verify they have had a negative PCR result for SARS-Cov-2 within 72 hours of their arrival in Spain if they are travelling from a country deemed as ‘at risk’.

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport COVID-19 control zone

Who has to submit a PCR test for COVID-19 to enter Spain?

All those passengers who come from a country/zone at risk in relation to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus MUST show a certificate with a NEGATIVE PCR result, carried out in the 72 hours prior to their trip. You can consult the list of countries at risk at this link. This list of countries/areas affected will be updated regularly. This requirement affects the air and sea routes. For more information see the following link of the Ministry of Health.

Do I have to travel with the certificate that proves the result of the PCR for COVID-19 to enter Spain?

As part of the documentary control carried out at the entry points, the passenger may be requested, at any time, to prove the result of a PCR test. The supporting document must be the original, will be written in Spanish and/or English and may be submitted in paper or electronic format. The document will contain, at least, the following information: traveller’s name, passport or ID number, date of the test, identification and contact details of the centre that performed the analysis, technique used and negative test result. The personal identification number (passport/DNI/NIE) that you used to get your QR must be the same as the one that appears on the negative PCR certificate.

If I arrive in Spain in transit with another country as my final destination, do I have the obligation to present a PCR test upon arrival in Spain?

If the transit in Spain is done without leaving the international zone, the presentation of a PCR will not be required. If the transit involves passing through border control centres and therefore entry into Spanish territory, it may be required to submit a PCR in the same terms as passengers whose final destination is Spain.

Can the fact that I have a PCR test for COVID-19 at the airport of origin be verified?

To allow the boarding of passengers bound for Spain, the airlines, at the airport of origin, will check that they have the QR code generated through the website www.spth.gob.es, or the Spain Travel Health – SpTH application.

What prevention measures against COVID-19 are recommended in Spain? Which are mandatory?

1. Maintain a physical interpersonal distance of at least 1.5 meters with people with whom you do not live.
2. Wash hands frequently and meticulously.
3. Breathing procedure: When coughing or sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow. Use disposable tissues to remove respiratory secretions and throw them away after use. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth, as the hands facilitate the transmission of coronavirus.
4. The use of a mask is compulsory in those over 6 years of age:
   • On public transport.
   • On public streets, in open-air spaces and in any closed space for public use or that is open to the public, in the case that it is not possible to guarantee the maintenance of an interpersonal safety distance of at least 1.5 meters.

   The use of a mask will not be required for people who have any type of respiratory illness or difficulty that may be aggravated by the use of the mask or who, due to their disability or dependence, do not have the autonomy to remove the mask, or present behavioural changes that make their use unfeasible. Neither will it be required in the case of individual outdoor sport exercise, or in cases of force majeure or situation of need or when, due to the very nature of the activities, the use of the mask is incompatible, according to the indications from the health authorities.

You can check the mobility restrictions (lockdown measures) implemented in each Autonomous Community at the following link: https://www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov/enlacesCCAA.htm

What should I do if I have health problems during my stay in Spain?

If during your stay in Spain you have symptoms of acute respiratory infection (fever, cough or respiratory distress) or other symptoms compatible with COVID-19 such as decreased smell and taste, chills, sore throat, muscle aches, headache, weakness general, diarrhoea or vomiting, you are obliged to:

1. Self-isolate yourself: stay at home or your place of accommodation and self-isolate in a room. This must be for individual use, well ventilated and with an individual bathroom. If this is not possible, the safety distance of 1.5 metres must be guaranteed and a surgical mask must be worn when in contact with the rest of the cohabitants. Be particularly meticulous with your hygiene.
2. Contact the health service: contact telephone contact with the competent health authorities of the autonomous communities. If you have a feeling of heaviness, shortness of breath, or chest pain, call 112.

What should I do if I am a close contact of a diagnosed case of COVID-19 during my stay in Spain?

Quarantine if you have had a close contact: if you have had close contact with a patient with COVID-19 or suspect of having it without adequate protection measures, from 48 hours before the onset of symptoms, you must quarantine for 10 days staying in your domicile or place of accommodation and preferably in a single room.

For more information you can consult the website of the Ministry of Health of the Government of Spain, dedicated to the health emergency by COVID-19, in different languages ​​ https : //www.mscbs.gob.es/profesionales/saludPublica/ccayes/alertasActual/nCov-China/ciudadania.htm