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At Spanish Hotel Under Coronavirus Lockdown, Meals With Masks At Spanish Hotel Under Coronavirus Lockdown, Meals With Masks
(about 1 hour later)
TENERIFE, Spain — At a tourist resort on a Spanish island where hundreds of hotel guests remained on lockdown on Wednesday to contain the spread of the coronavirus, some had breakfast and lunch while wearing masks, then quickly repaired to their rooms.TENERIFE, Spain — At a tourist resort on a Spanish island where hundreds of hotel guests remained on lockdown on Wednesday to contain the spread of the coronavirus, some had breakfast and lunch while wearing masks, then quickly repaired to their rooms.
A few guests floated around wearing masks in virtually empty corridors and common areas, videos from inside the hotel, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, showed.A few guests floated around wearing masks in virtually empty corridors and common areas, videos from inside the hotel, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace on Tenerife, the largest of Spain’s Canary Islands, showed.
“There’s almost no one,” said Silke Bal, 17, a guest from Belgium, as she walked around the hotel. “Everything is closed.”“There’s almost no one,” said Silke Bal, 17, a guest from Belgium, as she walked around the hotel. “Everything is closed.”
The lockdown remained firmly in place for most guests as the Spanish authorities announced on Wednesday that two more people had tested positive for the coronavirus, and officials in Europe scrambled to contain an outbreak that had spread to five nations on the Continent. France on Wednesday reported its second death from the coronavirus.The lockdown remained firmly in place for most guests as the Spanish authorities announced on Wednesday that two more people had tested positive for the coronavirus, and officials in Europe scrambled to contain an outbreak that had spread to five nations on the Continent. France on Wednesday reported its second death from the coronavirus.
On Tuesday, for the first time, more new cases were reported outside China than inside, according to the World Health Organization’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. For the first time, more new cases have been reported outside China than inside, according to the World Health Organization’s chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The number of new cases reported in China on Tuesday was 411; elsewhere, the total was 427. The number of cases globally has now reached 80,980, and nearly 3,000 of those have died.
The European Union’s top official for communicable diseases also warned that the Continent needed to prepare for a large-scale pandemic, as Italy struggled to bring a cluster of cases in the north of the country under control.The European Union’s top official for communicable diseases also warned that the Continent needed to prepare for a large-scale pandemic, as Italy struggled to bring a cluster of cases in the north of the country under control.
Dr. Andrea Ammon, the director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said at a news conference in Rome on Wednesday, “We will likely see a similar situation in other countries in Europe.”Dr. Andrea Ammon, the director of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, said at a news conference in Rome on Wednesday, “We will likely see a similar situation in other countries in Europe.”
The European Union’s health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, said she had asked all member countries to send her details about their pandemic preparedness, including how they planned to trace people who had been in contact with someone infected.The European Union’s health commissioner, Stella Kyriakides, said she had asked all member countries to send her details about their pandemic preparedness, including how they planned to trace people who had been in contact with someone infected.
“We have requested member states to review their pandemic plans as well as health care capabilities,” Ms. Kyriakides said in Rome on Wednesday, “including capacity for diagnosing, laboratory testing and procedures for contact tracing.”“We have requested member states to review their pandemic plans as well as health care capabilities,” Ms. Kyriakides said in Rome on Wednesday, “including capacity for diagnosing, laboratory testing and procedures for contact tracing.”
Updated Feb. 25, 2020Updated Feb. 25, 2020
That European push came as Spanish officials announced on Wednesday that one person in Madrid and another in Catalonia had tested positive, bringing the country’s total to 11. They had both recently arrived from Italy, which has seen an eruption of the most cases in Europe: more than 300.That European push came as Spanish officials announced on Wednesday that one person in Madrid and another in Catalonia had tested positive, bringing the country’s total to 11. They had both recently arrived from Italy, which has seen an eruption of the most cases in Europe: more than 300.
Enrique Ruíz Escudero, an official with the regional government of Madrid, the Spanish capital, said two young people who had recently been in Italy were being treated for the virus. They had been transferred to hospitals and placed in isolation. Officials described their condition as “good.”Enrique Ruíz Escudero, an official with the regional government of Madrid, the Spanish capital, said two young people who had recently been in Italy were being treated for the virus. They had been transferred to hospitals and placed in isolation. Officials described their condition as “good.”
Neither was identified, but Madrid officials said both had returned recently from Italy, where the Lombardy region has been hit especially hard by the outbreak. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy have also been reported in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.Neither was identified, but Madrid officials said both had returned recently from Italy, where the Lombardy region has been hit especially hard by the outbreak. Cases that appear connected to Lombardy have also been reported in France, Austria, Croatia and Switzerland.
All of this week’s cases in Spain still had to be confirmed by a second round of testing, which will be done in Spain’s national center of microbiology. So far, they’ve involved people who had recently been in northern Italy.All of this week’s cases in Spain still had to be confirmed by a second round of testing, which will be done in Spain’s national center of microbiology. So far, they’ve involved people who had recently been in northern Italy.
Across Europe, in addition to the hotel in the Canary Islands in Spain, hotels in Austria and France were locked down this week after guests tested positive for the virus. Across Europe, in addition to the people at the hotel in the Canary Islands, guests at hotels in Austria and France were placed in lockdown this week after others either tested positive for the virus or were suspected of having it.
On Wednesday, there were two types of visitors in the coastal town of Adeje, in southwest Tenerife: those who remained essentially under quarantine in their hotel because of the coronavirus and those staying elsewhere, free to wander around and wondering how those under lockdown were doing. On Wednesday, there were two types of visitors in the coastal town of Adeje, in southwest Tenerife: those who remained essentially sealed in their hotel because of the coronavirus and those staying elsewhere, free to wander around and wondering how those under lockdown were doing.
“How are they getting breakfast in there?” asked Katrien Van Gele, a visitor from Belgium.“How are they getting breakfast in there?” asked Katrien Van Gele, a visitor from Belgium.
Hundreds of vacationers at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace were ordered not to leave the building after the illness was diagnosed in an Italian doctor and his partner. The authorities sought to trace everyone who had come in contact with the doctor at the resort.Hundreds of vacationers at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace were ordered not to leave the building after the illness was diagnosed in an Italian doctor and his partner. The authorities sought to trace everyone who had come in contact with the doctor at the resort.
However, 106 guests who had arrived at the hotel after the Italian doctor was isolated were preparing to leave later on Wednesday after receiving final clearance from the authorities.However, 106 guests who had arrived at the hotel after the Italian doctor was isolated were preparing to leave later on Wednesday after receiving final clearance from the authorities.
On Wednesday morning, while guests at the H10 remained restricted in their movements and the hotel said on its website that it would remain “temporarily closed for the next few days,” some occupants did have breakfast in the hotel restaurant. On Wednesday morning, while guests at the H10 remained restricted in their movements and the hotel said on its website that it would remain “temporarily closed for the next few days,” refrigerated food trucks and workers were sent to provide supplies to the hotel at midday, while guests there said they could leave their rooms and wander around the resort, including the swimming pool.
Refrigerated food trucks and workers were sent to provide supplies to the hotel at midday, while guests there said they could leave their rooms and wander around the resort, including the swimming pool. Communication within the hotel remained scant among guests. Some, like Laura Walter, a 24-year-old tourist from Germany, said she had not been let out of her room Wednesday morning. “We have been waiting for a call from the reception,” Ms. Walter said in a message.
Communication within the hotel remained scant and seemed to vary among guests. Some, like Laura Walter, a 24-year-old tourist from Germany, said she had not been let out of her room Wednesday morning. In an interview with the Spanish television channel Antena 3, a guest at the hotel showed the leftovers of the salami-and-cheese sandwiches and the fruit that had been delivered to the room he is sharing with his wife, as well as a supply of water and a set of clean sheets.
“We have been waiting for a call from the reception,” Ms. Walter said in a message, adding that she and her family would venture into the lobby for more information.
In an interviews with the Spanish television channel Antena 3, a guest at the hotel showed the leftovers of the salami-and-cheese sandwiches and the fruit that had been delivered to the room he is sharing with his wife, as well as a supply of water and a set of clean sheets.
“I guess it means nobody is going to be cleaning our room all of this time,” the man said.“I guess it means nobody is going to be cleaning our room all of this time,” the man said.
Another guest said, “We are seeing the beach from the balcony, but without being able to enjoy it.”Another guest said, “We are seeing the beach from the balcony, but without being able to enjoy it.”
The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, tried to reassure locals in front of the hotel on Wednesday, saying that the situation inside was complicated.The mayor of Adeje, José Miguel Rodríguez Fraga, tried to reassure locals in front of the hotel on Wednesday, saying that the situation inside was complicated.
“We have to control a virus that isn’t totally deadly,” he said.“We have to control a virus that isn’t totally deadly,” he said.
Mr. Rodríguez Fraga said there were 25 nationalities among the hundreds of guests in the hotel, and that the impact on the local tourism industry could be heavy. “We are a vulnerable territory,” he said. “But it’s not a catastrophe, it’s not the end of the world.” Mr. Rodríguez Fraga said there were 25 nationalities among the hundreds of guests in the hotel, and that the impact on the local tourism industry could be heavy. “We are a vulnerable territory,” he said. “But it’s not a catastrophe; it’s not the end of the world.”
Initially, the coronavirus reached Spanish islands that are major tourism hubs, including Tenerife. But since Tuesday, the virus has spread to the mainland, including the two largest cities in Spain, Madrid and Barcelona.Initially, the coronavirus reached Spanish islands that are major tourism hubs, including Tenerife. But since Tuesday, the virus has spread to the mainland, including the two largest cities in Spain, Madrid and Barcelona.
Fernando Simón, the head of Spain’s coordination center for health alerts and emergencies, said at a news conference on Wednesday that all additional cases identified in the country this week had been in “controlled situations” and had their origins traced to Italy: four in Tenerife, two in Madrid, one in Castellón and two in Catalonia, including one in the region’s capital, Barcelona. Fernando Simón, the head of Spain’s coordination center for health alerts and emergencies, said at a news conference on Wednesday that all additional cases identified in the country this week had been in “controlled situations” and had their origins traced to Italy.
In each case, he said, it had been possible to identify the people the patient had had direct contact with in Spain before they entered the hospital. For now, he said, Spain did not need additional measures to control the coronavirus. Mr. Simón said, “Spain does not recommend checkpoints at airports,” which he argued had limited efficacy. He also warned that such checkpoints could have the counterproductive effect of “relaxing” the internal monitoring of the disease.
For now, he said, Spain did not need additional measures to control the coronavirus. Even though all the recent cases had arrived from Italy, Mr. Simón said, “Spain does not recommend checkpoints at airports,” which he argued had limited efficacy. He also warned that such checkpoints could have the counterproductive effect of “relaxing” the internal monitoring of the disease.
“The situation in Spain has not changed significantly,” he said. “We have more volume, but the risk of transmission for the population hasn’t changed.”“The situation in Spain has not changed significantly,” he said. “We have more volume, but the risk of transmission for the population hasn’t changed.”
Mr. Simón added that no one should minimize the impact of a virus that had already killed more than 2,000 people in China, while warning against alarmism.
“Today, everybody travels, so there are terms that should be demystified, like the term pandemic,” he said.
Outside the H10 Costa Adeje, most visitors said they remained unconcerned about the outbreak but would avoid the touristy areas in the southern part of Tenerife Island.Outside the H10 Costa Adeje, most visitors said they remained unconcerned about the outbreak but would avoid the touristy areas in the southern part of Tenerife Island.
“As long as those inside the hotel remain there for now, I think we’re safe,” said Berns Drewitz, a visitor from Germany.“As long as those inside the hotel remain there for now, I think we’re safe,” said Berns Drewitz, a visitor from Germany.
Others, like John, a 61-year-old visitor from Ireland who declined to give his surname, said he and his wife would shorten their vacation and would fly back home on Friday instead of Sunday.Others, like John, a 61-year-old visitor from Ireland who declined to give his surname, said he and his wife would shorten their vacation and would fly back home on Friday instead of Sunday.
“We don’t want to be blocked here for two or three more weeks,” he said.“We don’t want to be blocked here for two or three more weeks,” he said.
But Ms. Van Gele, the visitor from Belgium, said she wouldn’t mind being trapped on the island. “More vacation is always welcome,” she said. “Let’s just not panic.”But Ms. Van Gele, the visitor from Belgium, said she wouldn’t mind being trapped on the island. “More vacation is always welcome,” she said. “Let’s just not panic.”
Elian Peltier reported from Tenerife, Spain, and Raphael Minder from Madrid. Matina Stevis-Gridneff contributed reporting from Brussels.Elian Peltier reported from Tenerife, Spain, and Raphael Minder from Madrid. Matina Stevis-Gridneff contributed reporting from Brussels.