Negative Tests for Tourists ?

[Captain Sensible]

The Canarian Government propose to get a law passed that will require tourists to have a negative test at their point of origin before arriving in the Canaries.

This story will develop over the next few days: https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/can...ative-test

[Can the Man]

IMO this is absolutely necessary to protect the Islands low numbers. No point in opening up to tourists if they are going to come from hot spots and bring the disease to the island

[Will]

The problem is if you test negative the moment you get on the plane that can just mean the virus hasn't had enough time to grow. From the point you're infected to the point you test positive it can take days.

[Fabian]

I agree, Will, but I think it ist still better to identify at least some of the positive cases than none.

[Robbo]

So presumably this doesn't apply to absent homeowners returning (since they won't be presenting at hotel/accommodation receptions?)

[Rome77]

So presumably this doesn't apply to absent homeowners returning (since they won't be presenting at hotel/accommodation receptions?)

This is an interesting question. We managed to get out of our small London flat to our place in Fuerteventura for six weeks in July and August. At the time we were very aware that we were travelling from a a place with higher COVID rates and did a voluntary two week quarantine at our house after arriving in Fuerteventura (we did go for some local walks but didn't interact with anybody).

We're hoping to go back out again for Xmas and New Year so keeping a keen eye on any entry requirements that might be put in place. Like many others I think some sort of checking needs to be put in place - otherwise I'd really worry about the resulting COVID rates. That should include arrivals from mainland Spain by the way. Surely there should be enough experience across the Canary Islands after all these months as to what would be reasonable entry requirements to keep the local population safe? As Sam alluded to in another post - the challenge seems to be who is going to organise and pay for the required tests?

[Felipe Geraldo]

I am watching this closely since I am due to fly over this coming Saturday, just noticed another post related to this on Canarian Weekly:

https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/neg...5-november

"The decree for this proposal is scheduled to be signed off on Friday, and if it is, will be printed in the Boletin Oficial (BOC) on Saturday. Legally from the next day, Sunday November 1st, it could be implemented as a requirement, but it won’t be, it will be somewhere between the 8th and the 15th of the month."

Nothing certain yet, and very little coverage of this in national media that I can see

[Jason W]

So a family of 4 have just paid let’s say £3k for a week, the little one tests positive and the family must stay at home. Who covers the cost? Unlikely the Insurance company or tour operator so you immediately kill the family holidays. What is left, couples, will they risk it ? So now you are down to homeowners booking cheap flights they can afford to lose. It can’t work. This is without getting into the  whole issue of unreliable testing both false positives and the ability to obtain a test.

[Captain Sensible]

The latest news: https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/neg...wIiXjnf42M

[Jason W]

So unlicensed private rentals now seem attractive if reading this correctly. At least second homeowners seem fine, as highlighted in my previous post, these might end up being the only visitors for a while.