Madrid, February 13th (EFE). – On Saturday, the Bank of England published an extension until next March 2 to the restrictions imposed on entering flights from the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil, except for citizens and residents of Spain and Andorra, due to the variants of the coronavirus discovered in those countries.
The aforementioned agreement has been extended three times through the Cabinet Agreements dated December 29, 2020, January 12, 2021 and January 26, 2021. The period specified by the latest extension expires at 6:00 pm on February 16, 2021 (peninsula time).
According to the Official Gazette of the State, it is not permitted to carry out flights from any airport located in the United Kingdom to any airport located in the Kingdom of Spain, with or without a stopover, except in the case of aircraft carrying exclusive citizens. Spain or Andorra, or a resident of Spain or Andorra.
Only ro-ro passenger ships and passenger ships providing regular line services between UK and Spain ports that have transported passengers in a British port will only be permitted to enter Spanish ports in the case of ships carrying exclusive citizens. Spain or Andorra, or residents of both countries.
The agreement provides, however, with some exceptions to these restrictions, and enables the Ministry of Health to lift the planned restrictions, and sometimes allow aircraft flights or entry to ships for justified reasons.
The order highlights that although the epidemiological situation in the UK has improved, it continues to present a cumulative rate of fourteen days high with 632.01 cases per 100,000 population.
In addition, the expansion of the new variable in that country continues to be of concern, as of all the cases detected at a population level, it increased from 46% in the first week of December 2020 to 76.6% in mid-January 2021.
And in Spain, an increase in cases associated with the new variant has been detected with a wide geographical spread in the national territory, so it is necessary to maintain the measures, notes the Bank of England.
Likewise, from Brazil and South Africa, only flights carrying Spanish citizens or Andorra, residents of both countries or international transit passengers to a non-Schengen country with a stopover of less than 24 hours, may arrive in Spain, without leaving Spain. Airport transit area.
This measure was adopted due to the emergence of new types of virus associated with these countries. With regard to the Brazilian variant, there is still concern about the extension of this new variant, as well as its potential effects on disease transmissibility and ability to neutralize antibodies, as the arrangement shows,
Regarding the South African variant, its high penetration in that country, driven by its high transmission capacity, also justifies maintaining the measure, adds BOE.
The restrictions will apply to flights from Brazil and South Africa from 09:00 (08:00 GMT) on February 17 to 18:00 on March 2. EFE
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