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Spanish Hotel Is Locked Down After Guests Test Positive for Coronavirus Spanish Hotel Is Locked Down After Guests Test Positive for Coronavirus
(about 2 hours later)
ADEJE, Spain — The Spanish authorities scrambled on Tuesday to trace everyone who had come in contact with an Italian doctor and his partner who tested positive for the coronavirus while on vacation in the Canary Islands, locking down a major resort with about 1,000 guests in the hopes of limiting any possible outbreak.ADEJE, Spain — The Spanish authorities scrambled on Tuesday to trace everyone who had come in contact with an Italian doctor and his partner who tested positive for the coronavirus while on vacation in the Canary Islands, locking down a major resort with about 1,000 guests in the hopes of limiting any possible outbreak.
While officials said they were acting out of an abundance of caution, the response underscored how quickly the spread of the virus in one European Union nation could become a problem for others in the bloc, which prides itself on frictionless travel across borders.While officials said they were acting out of an abundance of caution, the response underscored how quickly the spread of the virus in one European Union nation could become a problem for others in the bloc, which prides itself on frictionless travel across borders.
The doctor had been visiting from the Lombardy region of Italy, local news reports said, which has been hit particularly hard by the virus. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy were also reported on Tuesday in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.The doctor had been visiting from the Lombardy region of Italy, local news reports said, which has been hit particularly hard by the virus. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy were also reported on Tuesday in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
In another Lombardy link, the Spanish authorities said Tuesday that a 36-year-old Italian woman living in Barcelona had tested positive for the virus after returning from the region. Joan Guix, a Catalan regional official, said that the authorities had identified about 25 people who had been in contact with the woman and that they would remain “isolated” for 14 days.In another Lombardy link, the Spanish authorities said Tuesday that a 36-year-old Italian woman living in Barcelona had tested positive for the virus after returning from the region. Joan Guix, a Catalan regional official, said that the authorities had identified about 25 people who had been in contact with the woman and that they would remain “isolated” for 14 days.
The Canary Islands resort, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on the island of Tenerife, was not placed under quarantine, which involves separation of those who have been exposed to the virus, the authorities said. Rather, they said, it was in lockdown for now, which aims to halt the movement of all individuals within the concerned area — regardless of whether they are sick or have been exposed.The Canary Islands resort, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on the island of Tenerife, was not placed under quarantine, which involves separation of those who have been exposed to the virus, the authorities said. Rather, they said, it was in lockdown for now, which aims to halt the movement of all individuals within the concerned area — regardless of whether they are sick or have been exposed.
The hotel, with its lights blazing and emergency vehicles clustered outside, drew curious visitors and locals in the coastal island town on Tuesday night.The hotel, with its lights blazing and emergency vehicles clustered outside, drew curious visitors and locals in the coastal island town on Tuesday night.
“Everyone is talking about the coronavirus,” said Gunter Hoffmann, a 70-year-old visitor from northern Germany who stopped in front of the resort. Like most tourists, Mr. Hoffmann didn’t wear a mask, and he said he and his wife had received no guidance from their hotel nearby.“Everyone is talking about the coronavirus,” said Gunter Hoffmann, a 70-year-old visitor from northern Germany who stopped in front of the resort. Like most tourists, Mr. Hoffmann didn’t wear a mask, and he said he and his wife had received no guidance from their hotel nearby.
“We are somehow laughing about the whole situation, but it’s making us a little concerned, too,” Mr. Hoffmann added. “We’re happy to leave tomorrow.”“We are somehow laughing about the whole situation, but it’s making us a little concerned, too,” Mr. Hoffmann added. “We’re happy to leave tomorrow.”
The Canary Islands, an archipelago about 60 miles west of the African coast, are a popular destination for Europeans.The Canary Islands, an archipelago about 60 miles west of the African coast, are a popular destination for Europeans.
The Italian doctor had been on Tenerife for a week before he fell ill with a fever and checked in at a hospital, where he tested positive for the virus on Monday night. He was then placed in an isolation ward. His partner, who was traveling with him, tested positive on Tuesday, health officials said.The Italian doctor had been on Tenerife for a week before he fell ill with a fever and checked in at a hospital, where he tested positive for the virus on Monday night. He was then placed in an isolation ward. His partner, who was traveling with him, tested positive on Tuesday, health officials said.
Updated Feb. 25, 2020Updated Feb. 25, 2020
The Spanish authorities said that more tests were being done in Madrid to confirm the diagnosis, and they ordered guests at the hotel not to leave until they were complete.The Spanish authorities said that more tests were being done in Madrid to confirm the diagnosis, and they ordered guests at the hotel not to leave until they were complete.
In other quarantines for the coronavirus around the world, the standard practice has been to isolate for 14 days those who have possibly been exposed.In other quarantines for the coronavirus around the world, the standard practice has been to isolate for 14 days those who have possibly been exposed.
Outside of China — where the scale of the epidemic still far outpaces the rest of the world and where whole cities have been locked down over the past two months — quarantines have proved an effective measure to at least slow the spread of the virus.Outside of China — where the scale of the epidemic still far outpaces the rest of the world and where whole cities have been locked down over the past two months — quarantines have proved an effective measure to at least slow the spread of the virus.
However, when the passengers of a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, were forced to stay onboard for weeks after it docked in Yokohama, Japan, the lockdown led to widespread transmission, with more than 690 people contracting the disease, making it the largest concentration of coronavirus cases outside China.However, when the passengers of a cruise ship, the Diamond Princess, were forced to stay onboard for weeks after it docked in Yokohama, Japan, the lockdown led to widespread transmission, with more than 690 people contracting the disease, making it the largest concentration of coronavirus cases outside China.
For the guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, on the southern end of Tenerife, it would be hard to imagine how their vacation could get worse. As well as the infection fears, a storm swept sands from the Sahara through the Canary Islands over the weekend, forcing airports to close and stranding thousands of tourists.For the guests at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, on the southern end of Tenerife, it would be hard to imagine how their vacation could get worse. As well as the infection fears, a storm swept sands from the Sahara through the Canary Islands over the weekend, forcing airports to close and stranding thousands of tourists.
As the sands dissipated and the orange haze lifted, guests at the resort awoke to another unwelcome surprise: a note slipped under their doors from the management, telling them to stay in their rooms for health reasons.As the sands dissipated and the orange haze lifted, guests at the resort awoke to another unwelcome surprise: a note slipped under their doors from the management, telling them to stay in their rooms for health reasons.
The police cordoned off the hotel and later on Tuesday morning, officers also blocked access to nearby streets and a parking lot. Video from inside the resort showed guests milling about, some wearing face masks, as crowds gathered outside the complex seeking information.The police cordoned off the hotel and later on Tuesday morning, officers also blocked access to nearby streets and a parking lot. Video from inside the resort showed guests milling about, some wearing face masks, as crowds gathered outside the complex seeking information.
Chris Betts, a Briton, posted a video on Twitter that suggested guests were not exactly confined to their quarters.Chris Betts, a Briton, posted a video on Twitter that suggested guests were not exactly confined to their quarters.
“We had breakfast normally,” he said. “The hotel seems to be acting normally, except we cannot go out.”“We had breakfast normally,” he said. “The hotel seems to be acting normally, except we cannot go out.”
But outside, normality seemed to give way to a sense of urgency. The police kept the road leading to the hotel closed. Health professionals dressed in green gowns and hotel employees in masks and yellow vests gathered in tents pitched at the hotel’s entrance.But outside, normality seemed to give way to a sense of urgency. The police kept the road leading to the hotel closed. Health professionals dressed in green gowns and hotel employees in masks and yellow vests gathered in tents pitched at the hotel’s entrance.
Without patrons, many restaurants and shops surrounding the hotel complex were closed Tuesday, said Wilson Escobar, an employee at the Vulcano, a bar where the terrace was damaged by the weekend storm.Without patrons, many restaurants and shops surrounding the hotel complex were closed Tuesday, said Wilson Escobar, an employee at the Vulcano, a bar where the terrace was damaged by the weekend storm.
“The storm hit us once, fine,” Mr. Escobar said as he cleaned the dust off his bar’s counter. “But how long is the virus going to stay? Between this and the storm, I fear the virus more.”“The storm hit us once, fine,” Mr. Escobar said as he cleaned the dust off his bar’s counter. “But how long is the virus going to stay? Between this and the storm, I fear the virus more.”
The hotel blockade was intended to allow health inspectors to check individuals who could have come in contact with the infected Italians, according to local news reports.The hotel blockade was intended to allow health inspectors to check individuals who could have come in contact with the infected Italians, according to local news reports.
Emergency government meetings were held Tuesday in the Canary Islands and in Madrid. Even so, officials sought to reassure people planning trips to Spain, one of the most popular tourism destinations, that the situation was under control.Emergency government meetings were held Tuesday in the Canary Islands and in Madrid. Even so, officials sought to reassure people planning trips to Spain, one of the most popular tourism destinations, that the situation was under control.
“Spain is a safe country at the moment and visitors have no reason to delay their visit to our country,” María Reyes Maroto, Spain’s tourism and industry minister, told reporters.“Spain is a safe country at the moment and visitors have no reason to delay their visit to our country,” María Reyes Maroto, Spain’s tourism and industry minister, told reporters.
Salvador Illa, the health minister, said Spain had no immediate plans to impose “drastic measures” like border checkpoints.Salvador Illa, the health minister, said Spain had no immediate plans to impose “drastic measures” like border checkpoints.
The lockdown of the hotel in Tenerife demonstrates “the seriousness with which this issue is being handled,” Mr. Illa said. If hotel guests are checked and do not show symptoms, he said, “they will be free to do whatever they want to do.”The lockdown of the hotel in Tenerife demonstrates “the seriousness with which this issue is being handled,” Mr. Illa said. If hotel guests are checked and do not show symptoms, he said, “they will be free to do whatever they want to do.”
Elian Peltier reported from Adeje, Spain, and Raphael Minder from Madrid. Marc Santora contributed reporting from London. Elian Peltier reported from Adeje, Spain, and Raphael Minder from Madrid. Marc Santora contributed reporting from London.