Britons discover the ‘new’ Spain as tourists return after lockdown 

Britons this week touched down in sunny Spain as the hard-hit nation opened its doors to tourists. 

Authorities are keen to get the holiday season back up and running in the country after it saw one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in Europe.

Spain today issued an appeal for British tourists to visit, claiming their holidays won’t be ‘radically’ affected by temperature checks and health forms when they land.  

But with Spain still recovering from the disease – which killed 28,323 and infected 246,272 – more than 400 new rules have been introduced which tourists and locals must abide by. 

They differ from region to region as the government has given autonomous areas the right to run their own territories and impose new laws as they feel fit. 

As of yet, there is no indication as to how long the rules will last for but locals and tourists alike have been warned to follow them or face tough fines.

Here, MailOnline breaks down the rules in each of Spain’s most-popular regions. 

Valencia, including Benidorm and Alicante 

The area will maintain most of the measures of phase three of the de-escalation, such as the obligation to limit the capacity to 75 per cent or 60 per cent in the case of shopping centres. 

Open air shows may not gather more than 800 people. Dancing in clubs still banned. Tables on terrace bars must be two metres apart and no more than 20 diners.

Outdoor shows must have seats and cannot seat more than 800 people.

Andalusia, home to Malaga, Granada and Seville

The regional government predicts the ‘new reality’ will be in effect until next spring at least.

The capacity of establishments and shops is 75 per cent inside but 100 per cent on terraces. 

Swimming pools and hotels must be at 50 per cent capacity. Cinemas at 65 per cent.

Outdoor concerts must have a maximum capacity of 1,500 people. At the moment, fairs and festivals are not recommended. 

Aragon

Establishments, as in Andalusia, will be at 75 per cent capacity.

Nightlife venues must be at 50 per cent and the dance floors are to be occupied by chairs and tables so no dancing is allowed. 

Children’s areas, previously closed, are now open again with the correct hygiene measures. 

Asturias

Individual councils are responsible for the rules pertaining to beaches in Asturias.

Nightspots can open with capacity of 50 per cent but without a dance floor. 

As for the rest of the catering establishments, they can be opened to their full capacity. 

In reference to the parties, they have been classified by three types of risk (high, medium and low). 

From July 5th, festivals, pilgrimages and attractions can return but those with a high risk will be prohibited, those with medium risk will have a 75 per cent capacity.

Those with low risk wont face added measures.

Shopping centres will have a limited capacity of 50 per cent in common areas. 

Balearic Islands including Mallorca

The islands were the first place to welcome German tourists for a ‘holiday experiment’ with extensive regulations.

Big nightclubs can’t open yet and there are space restrictions on the beaches, with time limits also in place in some areas.

At weddings and other social events, the capacity cannot exceed 75 per cent with a maximum of 250 people in outdoor spaces and 150 people in enclosed spaces.

There is also a 75 per cent occupancy on cinemas, theatres and auditoriums. 

Clubs can’t open at all in Magaluf, the West End of Sant Antoni and certain areas of Playa de Palma. Party boats are banned everywhere.

Canary Islands

In the Canary Islands, as in the Balearic Islands, the rule of four square meters on the beach applies. 

Bars and restaurants will not have a capacity limit, but there will be a 75 per cent limit in shops. 

Nightclubs can open their terrace but with 75 per cent occupancy and no dancing. 

Lifts and escalators can only be used by one person at a time (unless family members) and the use of stairs is encouraged instead. 

Events outside are permitted with a maximum of 1,000. Inside it’s 300 maximum.  

Any payments generally to be made by card as cash discouraged. 

Napkins, oil dispensers, even tooth-picks will disappear from tables. 

Rugs, textiles, blankets and pictures e.t.c. are to disappear from hotel rooms.

Cantabria

A general capacity of 75 per cent is maintained in hotels, shops and cultural facilities, a percentage that drops to half in hostels, tourist facilities and nightlife venues. 

Sports events can’t have more than 300 people indoors and 1,000 outdoors. On the beaches, showers and footbaths can only be used by one person at a time.

Castilla-La Mancha

With the intention of not confusing citizens, the regional government has decided to limit the capacity to 75 per cent in practically all premises and public services. 

Castilla- León 

The area, very affected by the virus in some provinces due to its proximity to Madrid, has decided to prohibit any events or meetings where a distance of 1.5 metres between people cannot be maintained. 

In the hospitality sector the bars are reopened although the capacity is limited to 75 per cent. 

Clubs must place tables on the dance floors and will have attendance limited to one third of their capacity. Pools may open to 75 per cent of capacity and sports competitions without physical contact are allowed.

Catalonia 

The community changed from phase three to the ‘new normal’ in just 24 hours this week, which has meant that its president, Quim Torra, has made a call for individual responsibility. 

Thus, from next June 25 there will be no limited capacity. In outdoor events, the safety distance of 1.5 metres must be respected, although it can be lowered if a mask is used and there must be a register of attendees.

Galicia

Terraces must be limited to 80 per cent capacity. In common areas of shopping malls, this is decreased to 50 per cent. 

Outdoor events must have a maximum of 1,000 people seated and 300 if they are held indoors.

La Rioja

The regional government has adopted a policy of not limiting the capacity in those spaces where it is possible to maintain distances. 

In large events, a 75 per cent capacity has been introduced. 

All events will be by appointment to allow, if necessary, the tracking of attendees. 

In the bullrings, up to 1,000 people allowed while the pools will have a 75 per cent capacity. 

Madrid 

Up until July 5, all businesses will have their internal capacity limited to 60 per cent (80 per cent in terraces of bars and restaurants, which can use their bars again). 

From July 6, that percentage will reach 75 per cent (100 per cent in terraces). 

The clubs will continue to be closed until at least July 5. Playgrounds are open again. 

Murcia

The region will allow hotels to operate with all its rooms open, although in common spaces the capacity will be limited to 75 per cent. 

Weddings may have 500 attendees outdoors (200 indoors and up to 800 with specific plans). 

Navarra

Capacity has been reduced to 75 per cent in the hospitality industry. Large events have been restricted to 1,000 attendees outdoors and 500 inside.

Basque Country

The Basque Country has reopened parks and recreational areas, although a space of four square metres for each person must be guaranteed. Masks are obligatory. 

In open-air cultural shows, pilgrimages, dance or music exhibitions and parades, the maximum capacity will be 1,000 attendees. The same rules apply to sports events in open spaces, such as cycling, rowing or athletics. 

In closed spaces this figure is reduced to 300 people. Clubs and nightlife venues resume their activity with 60 per cent of their capacity.

Rail passengers are thrown down stairs and tackled to the ground for not wearing face masks as coronavirus rules are brutally enforced in Spain  

By Amelia Wynne For Mailonline 

Rail passengers have been thrown down stairs and tackled to the ground for not wearing face masks as coronavirus rules are brutally enforced in Spain.  

Shocking footage taken at La Segrera underground station in Barcelona shows one man involved in a scuffle with two security guards. 

At one point during the struggle, the man is thrown down some steps and he lands on the floor on his back with a loud thud.

One of the security guards is heard shouting at the man on the floor: ‘I am fed up with you. And now you can call the police.’

In a separate incident at the Getafe train station just outside Madrid, another man was grabbed by train guards for not wearing his mask properly because he was talking on the phone. 

The man was forced to get off the train after arriving at the station where five members of staff began wrestling him. He eventually ended up being forced to the ground. 

According to local media, the security guards had to call local police and officers were then deployed to the station. The guards reported the passenger for assault to the national police. 

The Spanish government have stipulated that it is mandatory to wear a face mask when it’s impossible to keep a social distance as part of the health measures to prevent a new COVID-19 outbreak.    

In response to the incident at the underground station in Barcelona, the company that manages the local service Transports Metropolitans of Barcelona (TMB) said in a public statement that the man refused to wear a face mask and attacked one of the security guards.

Local media reports TMB has launched an investigation to clarify what happened and determine if they will take disciplinary measures against the security guards. 

Reports said the two security guards pushed the man down the steps when they were trying to remove the man from the underground station because he had refused to wear a face mask. 

Witnesses told local media that the man who was tackled to the ground at the train station in Madrid was talking on the phone inside the train with his mask hanging down when he was asked to cover his face and refused.

Witnesses told local media that ‘the guards started to shout at him and dragged him off the train’.

The union of private security Alternativa Sindical said in a press statement that they support the security guards shown in the video as the use of a face mask is mandatory in public transport.  

According to the latest figures from the Johns Hopkins University, Spain has registered 246,272 cases of COVID-19 and 28,323 related deaths.