Campsite lockdown in Spain
Several UK newspapers are reporting today that a campsite at Zarautz - between Bilbao and San Sebastián - has been locked down with 250 people inside because of diagnosis of Covid there. Police are guarding the gate.
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This very reason is why we have decided not to leave the UK for the foreseeable future, despite missing our 4 months away each year terribly. Better safe, or not, in the UK than encounter difficulties, or worse, abroad we think. We have visited there a number of times to enjoy the large availability of excellent Pinchos/Tapas when we camped next door at Orio, beautiful seaside town.
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Yup, i think it was inevitable, Spain just started their long summer holidays so lots of them on the road to beach resorts etc, could be Spains worst nightmare if one of those ubernisations on the Costas has an outbreak.
I think in the UK we will be very lucky if we dont have an outbreak on a site in one of the coastal hotspots in Devon/Cornwall. Still keeping our options open could be open toss up between being in lock down in Spain or somewhere in the UK
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This sort of thing can happen anywhere, not just Spain. It can happen just as much on your own doorstep. On close consideration, we felt that it shouldn't stop us from spending a fortnight in France, which we did a couple of weeks ago. We figured that if we let it influence our movements we'll be marooned at home forever because the problem is going to stay with us for the foreseeable future and we'd never get away. I can think of worse places to be locked down than on a campsite down by the beach.
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Ah, but will the UK be glad to have you back? Science has proven that the UK’s issues stemmed primarily from returnees from Italy and Spain initially, rather than from China. It’s a global game is Covid ping pong😉
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Oh no! I've just booked a walking holiday in the Italian Lakes for September! If we're not going to be welcomed back I guess we'll just have to put up with the hardship of extras days by Lake Maggiore (what a hardship that would be!
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i have read various accounts of peoples experiences of being abroad when Covid restrictions started but have only spoken to one person, a friend we meet with on a rally each year, and his experience was that you, the individual, have absolutely no say in what you have to do.
Initially he was ordered to stay on site, then given a couple of days notice to leave.so not sure that your expectations that you will be sunning yourself while we are in dark, cold UK would be correct.
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I agree, not my idea of joy at all☹️
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It is a risk everyone going abroad at the moment takes. Anyone could be unwittingly caught up in a local lockdown and find themselves trapped. Perhaps they would be lucky to be trapped in their sort of paradise but that might not be the case. What we don't know is whether overseas visitors would be treated any differently to local citizens in the case of a local lockdown so the option of returning home or moving on might not be available. Although I feel I have pretty extensive experience of travelling around Europe over the last 30 years I don't quite see where the pleasure is in the current circumstances. Perhaps it's an age thing?
David
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I think they made a wise decision. Spain has been bad, but certainly no worse than England. If it’s possible to stay put somewhere, it’s possibly the best option until things calm down a bit.
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My daughter has just informed me that the Valencia region has now made the wearing of a face mask compulsory in all areas except the beach , bars & cafe's, so walk out of your front door without a face mask and you face a €100 fine. Not to worried re lock down, we could always put caravan on their land and move in with daughter, not great but could be a get out of jail card. Murcia region already had this rule in place.
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Goodness me, Rufs, you should wear a mask all the time that you are out among people, without waiting to be told that it's compulsory or threatened with a fine - and I would include beach, bars and cafes too. The current Barcelona situation can so easily spread down the coast to Valencia.
The number is Covid deaths in Hong Kong is still only ten - and one of the reasons is that everyone always wears a mask whenever they are out of the house. And they sanitise everything they touch too.
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Hi David, my point to rufs was that, like many other thing people say will happen, he has absolutely no way if knowing that he will be able to do as he envisages.
I may be being pessimistic but, when a man points a big gun at you and tells you to leave his country, I think arguing is pretty futile.
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mask and disposable gloves for me and have been wearing them since day one, even when cycling and i cycle a lot, my daughter and husband in the UK both front line medics so get slapped wrists if i dont comply.
New infections in Alicante/Murcia region as a whole are very low, we are planning to stay in the Mazarron region and they have a good track record, so fingers crossed for Sept.
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Having worked in South Africa during Apartheid, South Korea for the Olympic games, Hong Kong when the US military were using it as a rest camp for Vietnam, i know exactly what to do when a man with a gun says jump "you ask how high", . As for taking risks , I have still not made the decision as to whether to stay or go and i dont need to make that decision until very late August, so plenty of time to do a risk assesment, and as my daughter lives and works in Spain, I do get first hand information, direct from the horses mouth so to speak.
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My sentiments entirely, Spain got caught with their pants down when this pandemic kicked off, but the measures they have put in place since to prevent a repeat performance have been much more decisive than those of England, so if we decide to take the plunge, we are more than happy to abide by the rules, my daughter from Spain will be with us starting next week for 2 weeks, she will be sleeping in our caravan, quite ironic really
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Thoughts of halcyon days brought on by lockdown in a foreign paradise are a bit wide of the mark. I know of 3 cases caught up with lockdown in Spain, Sicily and Morocco and it was a nightmare for all of them. Confined to a small van for weeks on end only allowed out to buy food and exercise briefly (rigorously enforced), herded into secure compounds for their own protection from hostile locals, largely abandoned by the UK government (compared to other foreign national), cesspit sanitation and the prospect of an overwhelmed healthcare system should the worst happen - all examples of what they experienced. I’m still optimistically hoping to over winter in Spain, but I’ll be out of there at the slightest whiff that something major is about to kick off. Luckily I have the option of a haven in Gibraltar - although one of the most densely populated places on the planet they’ve got off very lightly with CV so far and it’s not because they’ve been wearing face masks, but testing and taking quick decisive action to deal with outbreaks. The border with Spain has remained partially open throughout.
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Luckily I have the option of a haven in Gibraltar - although one of the most densely populated places on the planet they’ve got off very lightly with CV so far and it’s not because they’ve been wearing face masks, but testing and taking quick decisive action to deal with outbreaks. The border with Spain has remained partially open throughout
This is of course true, but a population of some 35k is hardly a comparison with countries of 60k plus even if the island is quite small, maybe many went to live underground, have worked their also, underground.
I’m still optimistically hoping to over winter in Spain, but I’ll be out of there at the slightest whiff that something major is about to kick of
well maybe your friends experiences were not so bad afterall if you are still considering taking the risk, especially as the sites in southern Spain are likely to be very full during the winter months, which must mean the risk factor is quite high.
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I’m not sure the population of Gibraltar live underground!
Their experiences were bad. That’s why I wouldn’t delay in taking action, but I’m prepared to take risks. Life would otherwise be very dull. I’ve done a number of sites in recent times. How full they are isn’t really a big factor (most are very busy). It’s about how you manage your own circumstances.
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Hi Bill, Your last line says it all.
My point in regard to rufs, and now to your comments, is that whilst I am sure you will do things as you feel are right and safe you, the individual, have no control over whet happens when things kick off.I can see what you mean by “first whiff if trouble” but how would you know??
By the time you know what will you be allowed to do??I hope any who do travel have a great, problem free, trip but think this is a very good example of ‘hoping for the best and planning for the worst’-it’s just that you don’t know what the worst might be.
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