Ibiza and Majorca go into coronavirus lockdown with hotels closed and airports shut as Brit tourists told to go home
ISLAND leaders in Majorca and Ibiza have announced the closure of ports and airports in the Balearics as part of the battle against coronavirus.
President of the Balearic Government, Francina Armengol confirmed the "very restrictive" measures moments ago.
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About 25,000 tourists are still in the islands.
The president said: "Departure flights from the Balearic Islands will be allowed so that tourists can return to the peninsula or to their country. The fewer people there are in the Islands, the less risk of contagion and the more protected we will be.
"It will allow us to concentrate on cases of coronavirus that are in our territory and in this way will help the health, personal and economic effort and sacrifice being made by the whole of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera society."
There are currently 92 positive coronavirus cases and one death in the Balearics, as 19 new cases were reported today.
FLIGHTS AND FERRIES RESTRICTED
The president has banned any type of flight, commercial or private, with the Balearic Islands from any national airport regardless of national or international origin.
Passengers landing from regular line vessels connecting to the islands, with the exception of freight are also prohibited.
Residents who are outside the Balearics at the moment can return and air mobility in the event of a catastrophe in very exceptional situations would be allowed, such as cases of postponed medical treatment or essential work, especially for the maritime connections, so that "the supply of the islands is guaranteed at all times."
Airlines can operate only one daily flight to Palma from Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. Airlines operating from Barcelona and Madrid with Ibiza and Menorca fall under the same restrictions, as will inter-island flights, who are only allowed to do one round trip per day.
Special flights are ordered to have safe separation spaces between passengers, reducing capacity.
In the case of shipping companies, only the regular line between Ibiza and Formentera can operate with passengers, with three connections a day in each direction.
Passengers looking for special flights will have to justify the need to make the trip or their residence to the islands.
The Spanish Government now has the power to carry out sanitary control measures for all passengers and travellers entering the archipelago with the aim of preventing new infections coming from outside.
The President yesterday ordered the closure of all hotels and holiday rentals over the next few days.
President Armengol said: "We need to stop the expansion of the virus. That is the goal that must be addressed by everyone right now."
"The effort and sacrifice we make is more effective if we all commit.
"Staying at home and following the health instructions is the best individual contribution that can be made in this fight against coronavirus expansion."
REBELLIOUS BRITISH TOURISTS
Brits trapped in their hotel rooms have been getting rebellious as the whole of Spain is in lockdown as it is now the fourth most infected nation on earth.
Angry police have been filmed clearing streets and pubs as determined partygoers are ignoring Spain's Covid-19 quarantine, telling everyone that "it's just flu".
Recent filming shows British tourists chanting "we've all got the virus" and taunting police in Spain.
One woman was bundled out of a Spanish hotel swimming pool in handcuffs and her bikini earlier after flouting the strict coronavirus lockdown rules.
The gobby woman was dragged from the water and arrested in Tenerife yesterday to scenes of jubilant cheering from onlooking guests.
More to follow...
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