Britons race to the sun as Spain opens border

CORONAVIRUS: SUMMER GETAWAY IS BACK ON

- Martyn Brown

THE annual competition for tourists to stake their claim for the best sunbathing spots is back on – as Britons started to return yesterday to Spain on holiday.

Travellers must pass three simple health checks on arrival to be allowed in after the country opened its borders.

Spain’s Minister of Health Salvador Illa said tourists will firstly have to fill in a form stating exactly where they will be staying for the duration of their trip and whether or not they have previously had coronavirus.

Then they will also have their temperature taken at the airport and undergo a visual inspection.

Mr Illa said that if the passenger fails one of the three checks, they will be seen by a doctor.

The checks, which began to be applied yesterday in ports and airports, will be carried out by around 540 health professionals, of whom 150 are doctors and nurses.

Mr Illa said: “There will be a sufficient number of personnel to subject all travellers to the three primary controls.” Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya added: “We want to make sure that we welcome visitors but we want to do this in complete safety and security, not just for them but for the Spaniards as well.”