This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/world/europe/tenerife-coronavirus-lockdown.html

The article has changed 28 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 18 Version 19
At a Locked Down Spanish Resort, Many Questions, Little Information At a Locked Down Spanish Resort, Many Questions, Little Information
(7 days later)
ADEJE, Spain — Among the hundreds of guests who remained stranded in a hotel in the Canary Islands on Thursday, after four guests were found to have the coronavirus early this week, an overriding question loomed:ADEJE, Spain — Among the hundreds of guests who remained stranded in a hotel in the Canary Islands on Thursday, after four guests were found to have the coronavirus early this week, an overriding question loomed:
“What’s going on?” Romane Guilloux, 20, a guest from France, asked about the lockdown imposed on patrons of the hotel, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, a four-star resort in the south of Tenerife, the largest of the islands.“What’s going on?” Romane Guilloux, 20, a guest from France, asked about the lockdown imposed on patrons of the hotel, the H10 Costa Adeje Palace, a four-star resort in the south of Tenerife, the largest of the islands.
Several European countries reported their first coronavirus cases on Thursday, and Britain confirmed a case that was linked to Tenerife. Some countries were taking aggressive steps to halt contagion of the virus, from shutting schools to closing mosques.Several European countries reported their first coronavirus cases on Thursday, and Britain confirmed a case that was linked to Tenerife. Some countries were taking aggressive steps to halt contagion of the virus, from shutting schools to closing mosques.
But at the Costa Adeje Palace, where officials said more than 700 people from 25 countries were staying, confusion reigned. Some guests appeared to be deeply frustrated, uncertain about how long they will have to remain in isolation and upset over what some thought were loose hygiene practices that might increase the chances of the virus spreading.But at the Costa Adeje Palace, where officials said more than 700 people from 25 countries were staying, confusion reigned. Some guests appeared to be deeply frustrated, uncertain about how long they will have to remain in isolation and upset over what some thought were loose hygiene practices that might increase the chances of the virus spreading.
Guests have been allowed to mingle around the resort’s pools. They have dined in the hotel’s restaurants and wandered in the common areas. The hotel staff has gone home when not working. Such measures have alarmed medical experts.Guests have been allowed to mingle around the resort’s pools. They have dined in the hotel’s restaurants and wandered in the common areas. The hotel staff has gone home when not working. Such measures have alarmed medical experts.
“That is not isolation,” Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at the Emory University School of Medicine, said about what had been permitted at the resort. All of the guests should remain in their rooms until the local health authorities have a more complete picture of who may have been infected, he said.“That is not isolation,” Dr. Carlos del Rio, an infectious diseases specialist at the Emory University School of Medicine, said about what had been permitted at the resort. All of the guests should remain in their rooms until the local health authorities have a more complete picture of who may have been infected, he said.
“Isolation and quarantine work,” he added, “but they need to be done properly.”“Isolation and quarantine work,” he added, “but they need to be done properly.”
The loose discipline at the hotel reminded some experts of the situation on the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that was on lockdown for weeks in Yokohama, Japan, with 3,700 people on board. Hundreds of passengers and staff members contracted the virus as they remained stuck on the ship.The loose discipline at the hotel reminded some experts of the situation on the Diamond Princess, the cruise ship that was on lockdown for weeks in Yokohama, Japan, with 3,700 people on board. Hundreds of passengers and staff members contracted the virus as they remained stuck on the ship.
At the Costa Adeje Palace, even the duration of the isolation period announced by the regional authorities on Wednesday was uncertain.At the Costa Adeje Palace, even the duration of the isolation period announced by the regional authorities on Wednesday was uncertain.
Teresa Cruz, a regional health official for the Canary Islands, said at a news conference on Thursday that 130 guests would be permitted to leave the resort, because they had arrived after the four people diagnosed with the virus had been hospitalized. The hotel staff could enter and leave the hotel, Ms. Cruz said, if they “adopted necessary protection measures.” She did not specify what measures were required.Teresa Cruz, a regional health official for the Canary Islands, said at a news conference on Thursday that 130 guests would be permitted to leave the resort, because they had arrived after the four people diagnosed with the virus had been hospitalized. The hotel staff could enter and leave the hotel, Ms. Cruz said, if they “adopted necessary protection measures.” She did not specify what measures were required.
And while some embassies and foreign ministries told some of their citizens that they would have to stay until March 8 or March 10, a communications officer for the regional health agency said the departure date for hundreds of guests would be “made flexible.”And while some embassies and foreign ministries told some of their citizens that they would have to stay until March 8 or March 10, a communications officer for the regional health agency said the departure date for hundreds of guests would be “made flexible.”
“Nobody seems to agree on anything,” Ms. Guilloux, the French guest, said in a phone interview from the pool area of the hotel, where she said she was staying with her parents and sister.“Nobody seems to agree on anything,” Ms. Guilloux, the French guest, said in a phone interview from the pool area of the hotel, where she said she was staying with her parents and sister.
When one of the hotel’s restaurants reopened on Wednesday, hundreds of guests rushed to a buffet, many wearing masks, but some not. Selina Lund, a British vacationer, told the BBC that she and her husband went back to their room after she saw a woman coughing in the restaurant, her mask coming off her face.When one of the hotel’s restaurants reopened on Wednesday, hundreds of guests rushed to a buffet, many wearing masks, but some not. Selina Lund, a British vacationer, told the BBC that she and her husband went back to their room after she saw a woman coughing in the restaurant, her mask coming off her face.
Ms. Guilloux said she was concerned when she saw a waiter set up cutlery without wearing a mask. Near the pools, many guests doffed their masks, she added.Ms. Guilloux said she was concerned when she saw a waiter set up cutlery without wearing a mask. Near the pools, many guests doffed their masks, she added.
William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said such a “very loose lockdown” created the risk that the virus could be circulating among the guests or the staff.William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine and infectious diseases at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, said such a “very loose lockdown” created the risk that the virus could be circulating among the guests or the staff.
“The risk is not large, but it is real,” he said. “If you isolate people who have symptoms and let the rest free, you are taking a chance.”“The risk is not large, but it is real,” he said. “If you isolate people who have symptoms and let the rest free, you are taking a chance.”
Still, the risk of transmission might be lower in Tenerife than aboard the Diamond Princess, Dr. Schaffner added, because the common spaces were probably larger in the resort, and the chance of transmission while outdoors is lower than within an enclosed space like the indoor areas of the cruise ship.Still, the risk of transmission might be lower in Tenerife than aboard the Diamond Princess, Dr. Schaffner added, because the common spaces were probably larger in the resort, and the chance of transmission while outdoors is lower than within an enclosed space like the indoor areas of the cruise ship.
The regional health officials said they had relaxed some of the movement restrictions at the resort because none of the remaining guests had presented symptoms. Still, on Thursday evening, paper pinned on some doors designated some guest rooms as “isolation zones,” according to a guest who shared a picture of a door.The regional health officials said they had relaxed some of the movement restrictions at the resort because none of the remaining guests had presented symptoms. Still, on Thursday evening, paper pinned on some doors designated some guest rooms as “isolation zones,” according to a guest who shared a picture of a door.
Updated July 16, 2020 Updated July 23, 2020
In the coastal town of Adeje, many residents brushed off concerns on Thursday that the coronavirus would spread beyond the hotel, even after British officials said that someone had tested positive for the virus after leaving the island and arriving in Britain.In the coastal town of Adeje, many residents brushed off concerns on Thursday that the coronavirus would spread beyond the hotel, even after British officials said that someone had tested positive for the virus after leaving the island and arriving in Britain.
“People may be afraid, but it’s just a psychosis,” said Juan Perez Garcia, 62, a craftsman selling glass and wooden sculptures at a local market. “It is going to hurt the economy here like everywhere.”“People may be afraid, but it’s just a psychosis,” said Juan Perez Garcia, 62, a craftsman selling glass and wooden sculptures at a local market. “It is going to hurt the economy here like everywhere.”
Ms. Cruz, the health official, said at her news conference that the Canary Islands remained “safe for its visitors as much as for its residents.”Ms. Cruz, the health official, said at her news conference that the Canary Islands remained “safe for its visitors as much as for its residents.”
Some guests at the Costa Adeje Palace posted photographs of the sunny resort on social media, acknowledging that, at least for now, their situation could be worse.Some guests at the Costa Adeje Palace posted photographs of the sunny resort on social media, acknowledging that, at least for now, their situation could be worse.
“We are all still trying to make the best of it,” said Silke Bal, a 17-year-old tourist from Belgium, “and to enjoy our vacation.”“We are all still trying to make the best of it,” said Silke Bal, a 17-year-old tourist from Belgium, “and to enjoy our vacation.”