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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
(32 minutes later)
ADEJE, Spain — The Spanish authorities scrambled on Tuesday to trace everyone who had 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 hundreds of guests in the hopes of limiting any possible outbreak.ADEJE, Spain — The Spanish authorities scrambled on Tuesday to trace everyone who had 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 hundreds of 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, officials said, which has been hard hit 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, officials said, which has been hard hit by the virus. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy were also reported on Tuesday in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
The 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 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, but no one going in or out — drew anxious looks Tuesday night from visitors to the coastal island town.The hotel — with its lights blazing and emergency vehicles clustered outside, but no one going in or out — drew anxious looks Tuesday night from visitors to the coastal island town.
“Everyone is talking about the coronavirus,” said Gunter Hoffmann, a tourist from northern Germany who stopped in front of the resort. Like most visitors, 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 tourist from northern Germany who stopped in front of the resort. Like most visitors, 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 and was placed in an isolation ward. His partner 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 and was placed in an isolation ward. His partner tested positive on Tuesday, health officials said.
The couple were part of a group of 10 people traveling together, said Ángel Víctor Torres, the president of the Canary Islands regional government. Shortly after Mr. Torres’s news conference, local news media cited the health ministry as saying that two people traveling with the couple had also tested positive for coronavirus.The couple were part of a group of 10 people traveling together, said Ángel Víctor Torres, the president of the Canary Islands regional government. Shortly after Mr. Torres’s news conference, local news media cited the health ministry as saying that two people traveling with the couple had also tested positive for coronavirus.
In another link to Italy’s Lombardy region, the Spanish authorities said Tuesday that a 36-year-old woman living in Barcelona had tested positive for the virus after returning from the region. Joan Guix, a Catalan regional official, said 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 link to Italy’s Lombardy region, the Spanish authorities said Tuesday that a 36-year-old woman living in Barcelona had tested positive for the virus after returning from the region. Joan Guix, a Catalan regional official, said 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 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.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.
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. 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. A storm swept sands from the Sahara through the Canary Islands over the weekend, forcing airports to close and stranding thousands of tourists.
On Tuesday, the resort’s guests awoke to another unwelcome surprise: A note slipped under their door, asking them to stay inside.On Tuesday, the resort’s guests awoke to another unwelcome surprise: A note slipped under their door, asking them to stay inside.
Updated July 21, 2020 Updated July 23, 2020
“We regret to inform you that for health reasons, the hotel has been closed down,” the note read, said Silke Bal, a guest from Belgium.“We regret to inform you that for health reasons, the hotel has been closed down,” the note read, said Silke Bal, a guest from Belgium.
She and fellow guests, like Laura Walser of Germany, said they left their rooms anyway to have breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, unaware that a case of coronavirus had been confirmed.She and fellow guests, like Laura Walser of Germany, said they left their rooms anyway to have breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant, unaware that a case of coronavirus had been confirmed.
As the news spread in the media that the hotel had been locked down over an infection, guests said they grew alarmed. Around midday, more worrying news came: Using megaphones, hotel staff members announced that guests could no longer leave their rooms, and that they had to wait for medical staff.As the news spread in the media that the hotel had been locked down over an infection, guests said they grew alarmed. Around midday, more worrying news came: Using megaphones, hotel staff members announced that guests could no longer leave their rooms, and that they had to wait for medical staff.
“Stay calm, we’ll keep you posted,” a subsequent note read. Staff distributed thermometers and instructed guests to check their temperature, but Ms. Bal and Ms. Walser said they were frustrated at the scant information being provided.“Stay calm, we’ll keep you posted,” a subsequent note read. Staff distributed thermometers and instructed guests to check their temperature, but Ms. Bal and Ms. Walser said they were frustrated at the scant information being provided.
“We just don’t know what’s happening,” Ms. Walser said.“We just don’t know what’s happening,” Ms. Walser said.
Emergency government meetings were held Tuesday in the Canary Islands and in Madrid to plan a response. Even so, officials sought to reassure people planning trips to Spain.Emergency government meetings were held Tuesday in the Canary Islands and in Madrid to plan a response. Even so, officials sought to reassure people planning trips to Spain.
“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.”
About 700 people from 25 nations were staying at the Costa Adeje Palace, officials said. With those patrons kept inside the resort, many restaurants and shops surrounding the complex were closed on Tuesday.About 700 people from 25 nations were staying at the Costa Adeje Palace, officials said. With those patrons kept inside the resort, many restaurants and shops surrounding the complex were closed on Tuesday.
“The storm hit us once, fine,” said Wilson Escobar, an employee at the Vulcano, a bar where the terrace was damaged by the weekend storm. “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,” said Wilson Escobar, an employee at the Vulcano, a bar where the terrace was damaged by the weekend storm. “But how long is the virus going to stay? Between this and the storm, I fear the virus more.”
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.