A daily updated article to keep citizens and tourists informed during the Covid-19 outbreak

Pedro Sanchez, Spanish Primeminister announced that tourists from low-risk countries such as the UK are now welcome into Spain from 24th May 2021.  Also included in this list are Australia, Israel, New Zealand, South Korea, China, India and Thailand. This means that you can visit without essential reasons and just come for a holiday! The information can be read in Spanish here for those interested in the official papers.  Note that currently, the Spanish government requires all arrivals to Spain to present on entry a pre-travel declaration form and depending on the country that you are arriving from there are specific requirements relating to your vaccination status.  
**If you are travelling to Spain in the coming days please click here to complete the necessary documentation or download the Spain Travel Health App.

Entry requirements to and from individual country of origin are changing frequently so we always advise checking your own embassy website before travel. For UK travellers this website is where you will find updates FCO – UK : gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice

**MASK WEARING**
It is not obligatory to wear a mask outside in Spain and where social distancing can be practiced.  It is still obligatory to wear a mask if you are inside shops, supermarkets, and other indoor facilities or if you are travelling in a form of public transport such as a bus, taxi or train.

US citizens are due to be welcomed from 7th June 2021 if they have received a double vaccination at least 14 days before entering into Spain.

Local restaurants, bars, shops and activities can all be found here on My Guide Marbella so reach out to them from the page for more information and to make any bookings in advance.

We hope many of you will decide to travel to Marbella and until then enjoy our latest My Guide Weekly videos :-)

Covid-19
As the whole world is reacting differently to the Covid-19, Coronavirus outbreak, we want to inform you of the actions taken by the government in Spain and here locally in Marbella to protect tourists and citizens alike.  We will be updating this information as the pandemic goes on.  

THE VIRUS
People may be sick with the virus for 1 to 14 days before developing symptoms. The most common symptoms of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. More rarely, the disease can be serious and even fatal. Older people, and people with other medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), may be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.

If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may also be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition.  Calling +34 900400061 or 112 will put you in touch with the right team here in Spain or, if you have private healthcare you may also have another dedicated line.  Sanitas, for example, offers live video consultation via their app. In Spain, they are currently not testing for the virus unless the symptoms are so bad you need to be hospitalized.   

As part of the government initiative to stop the spread of the virus, they continue to advise the below: 
- Wash your hands often and for min 20 secs at a time. 
- Cough or sneeze into your arm, not your hands
- Avoid physical contact with other citizens 
- Do not touch your face
- Stay hydrated
- Disinfect surfaces in your home regularly including phones, computers and tablets. 
-Maintain social distancing of 2m

Currently, the only 2 hospitals locally admitting patients that are suffering from Corona Virus complications are Costa del Sol (Public hospital) and the Quiron Hospital (private).

Developing symptoms of COVID-19 while in Spain
If you think you have symptoms, including fever or respiratory difficulties such as shortness of breath or a cough, you should stay in your accommodation and call your regional hotline. 
Andalusia: Tel. +34 955 545 060

TOP TIPS
1. If you have doubts about the possibility of having Coronavirus download the Spanish NHS health app called Salud Responde and follow their advice. 2. If you have been in contact with someone that you know to be positive then you must take yourself for a test at the nearest Urgencias (for free) or to a private testing clinic stating that you have been in the presence of someone positive and need a test yourself and then isolate yourself for the following 10 days
COVID-19 IN MARBELLA
We take our information from the Junta de Andalucía website dedicated to statistics and cartography.  The link is here if you wish to dissect the information as we do each day!  You can search by Hospital district (Costa del Sol is Marbella's) or by the municipality which gives a more isolated breakdown by specific areas.

Past News Releases with useful links can be seen here for information purposes

**We will update any news as it is made official at the top of this article**

7th May 2021

From 9th May the State of Alarm ended and restrictions in Andalucía have been updated as follows with a rather big hallelujah from us!! 

CURFEW : There will no longer be any curfews in place

HOSPITALITY :  Restaurants and Bars can open until 12 midnight and Take Away services can continue business as normal

NUMBERS AT A TABLE : Up to 10 persons can meet outside, only 8 persons inside restaurants though.

NIGHTLIFE : Nightclubs and bars can now open until 3.30am in the morning but for dancefloors to be open they must be open air

SHOPPING AND COMMERCE: Their normal opening hours will resume

TRAVEL: The whole region of Andalucía will now be open 

SCHOOLS : All remain open as normal, Universities remain online

CELEBRATIONS / EVENTS : Maximum of 300 inside and 500 in an exterior space

5th March 2021

The Junta de Andalucia has introduced a new system of "levels" to ascertain restrictions within a particular area which is also classified as the Health Authority district.  These levels are decided based upon several factors, not just the incidence rate and are reviewed every 7 days on Thursdays.

The format of the statistics published has changed in recent days where the incidence rate per 100,000 of the population is now the key topic.  Remaining below 1000 keeps certain restrictions from being applied.

As of today, Marbella has an incidence rate of 984.8

If we look at the sanitary district of the Costa del Sol we can see totals as we could previously by the municipality.

• Confirmed total - 18,065
• In ICU - 101
• Death total - 285
• Cured - 11,587

Continue to support essential businesses that are open and remember you need to quarantine for a period of at least 10 days if you come into contact with someone who is positive.
Here are also a couple of useful videos by a local Property expert