Family event in Spain next Sunday... can I still go?

[TR888]

I'm due to fly out to northern Spain for a family event this Thursday. The area is one of the least affected by Covid cases in the country. However, FCO's recommending no travel to Spain except for essential reasons, which obviously this isn't.

I so want to go. This is a really important event... what happens if I still go? Its not a problem to go on quarantine on my return.

@TR888

In early February, only a minuscule minority would imagine Covid would become a pandemic. Thanks.

There were cases all across the globe in February, and they were rising daily. There were deaths in France and Italy. It was clear this was a rapidly escalating situation.

February was most certainly not “pre-Covid”.

Oh - and also in Spain everyone is getting tested now so huge numbers of these are asymptotic positives amongst the young, hence the rising numbers. I had a negative test and it was very uncomfortable! Most of my friends have been tested. My (Spain) work paid for everyone's test before we went back. I only know one person in England whose been tested. I don't trust the stats at all for this reason, you can't compare countries really.

@Ofitck anyone in the UK can get tested now. Testing has massively ramped up.

I do wish there was a way to just test everyone weekly for the next couple of months to try and get it under control but understand they haven't got the capacity for that.

@Ofitck I thought the same but it seems that the U.K. are testing a much larger proportion of the population than Spain at the moment. I think it’s just the type of people I know in each country.

You’re right you can’t directly compare but I was answering the pp who was confused by the death rate being so much higher in the U.K.

Stats on testing rate are here ourworldindata.org/grapher/daily-tests-per-thousand-people-smoothed-7-day?time=2020-04-20..&country=ESP~GBR

@Ofitck kaixo!!

Basque here as well and I’m more secure In the southwest where I live than in the Basque Country. I’ve not seen my family for 7 months now. And I’ve a flight booked end of August. However the hassle when coming back and also the advice of fco of not travelling there (knowing my luck something would happen) is inclining me to cancel. (They’ve moved my flights already ) also right now my flights are half the price to when I bought them. And let’s be honest flights are quite cheap at the moment so I’m inclining to cancel my holiday to Spain and when restrictions are lifted I’d buy a trip for almost the next day

Quite frankly booking a foreign holiday during a pandemic is stupid and selfish

This ^

Why do so many people feel entitled to a foreign holiday? There will be plenty of time for travel when it’s over

And this ^

Mainland Spain is now on the fco essential travel only list which means you’re unlikely to have insurance cover if you go. Anyone who travels without insurance cover is quite frankly an idiot. Tui have just cancelled Spain and canary island flights with immediate effect.

If government are advising against all but essential travel it’s very unlikely that you’re insurance would be valid. What if you got sick/knocked over/had an accident out there?

I didn't know anyone can in yo, I thought you had to have symptoms? That's interesting. I don't know anyone who has (except for my mate whose nhs number came up asking her to do it voluntarily).

Aupa!!! That's good to hear as I'm not due back in Euskadi until September, I'm headed to Valencia region next and was a bit nervous about it! DH is still in Euskadi and fed up with the constant mask wearing.

I just don't trust the numbers anymore. I think it's easier having both passports though and can see why going for a holiday is a little more nerve racking (wracking?).

You can still use the European health card until the end of the year for Illnessea and the Spanish hospitals are free. However , many other things that insurance would provide would be void

Of course deaths lag behind infections. It’s just that they haven’t risen yet and the rise in infections began on 23rd June, which would be enough time for deaths to rise.

*There were cases all across the globe in February, and they were rising daily. There were deaths in France and Italy. It was clear this was a rapidly escalating situation.

February was most certainly not “pre-Covid”*

Our government was not taking it in the least bit seriously at that stage. Why would the general public?

Many of the new cases are asintomatic (id say vast majority ) and hospitals are doing well at the moment. So high numbers really doesn’t mean deaths as not all will need icu

The Catalan News reports it's Covid19 statistics and this is just one region in Spain where daily figures are very much at odds with the 'official' figures.

www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/coronavirus-in-catalonia-daily-figures-explained-in-graphs

July 23rd Catalonia reported 12 confirmed/suspected C19 deaths. July 22nd they reported 13 confirmed/suspected C19 deaths.

Two days ago the 'official' figure for the WHOLE of Spain was +3.

That's quite a difference.

Are Spain's 'official' figures to be trusted? Seems quite a few countries have decided that they're not.