(TAN): Visitors arrived in Spain in 100 flights on the first day after the country reopened its borders to the European Union and Schengen Area citizens earlier this week.
Although the Spanish administration lifted internal border restrictions from all European Union member states, the country will not reopen to Portugal until next month.
Of the total flights, 40 alone reportedly arrived at the Barajas Adolfo Suárez Airport in Spain’s capital Madrid, 18 of which were international flights.
Spain’s transport minister José Luis Ábalos and health minister Salvador Illa reportedly said the authorities have formulated a protocol to prevent further spread of the virus which will be followed at all airports.
All arrivals are required to complete a document with information such as location and whether they have tested negative for COVID-19. They must also pass two more tests, including temperature checks. In case they fail one of these tests, they will reportedly be examined by a doctor.
“The virus can return and it can hit us again in a second wave, and we have to do whatever we can to avoid that at all costs,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was quoted by CBS News as saying.
[ALSO READ: What you need to know about post-COVID air travel]
The country currently has 246,504 cases including 28,324 deaths, as per data from Johns Hopkins University. Spain’s tourism sector, which reportedly accounts for 12% of its economy, was battered by the pandemic after the European nation turned out to be one of the worst hit in Europe. The Spanish government has reportedly allotted over EUR 4.2 billion (USD approximately) to help revive the industry.
Spain has decided to reopen its borders to Morocco from July 1, although the latter might not return the gesture, a report said.
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