News

72 cents a mask

No one in Spain should pay more than 72 cents for a basic surgical face mask, after the Spanish government introduced a law setting a maximum price for these items on Monday.

Antigen tests: what’s the problem?

Recent laws passed by the Spanish and Canarian governments have introduced compulsory testing into both territories for the first time, but the elevated cost of PCR tests has caused many to call for the inclusion of cheap, rapid antigen tests in the law.

“The sofa was our front, patience our weapon…”

While the Canaries has used hard-hitting advertisements that aim to shock younger people into complying with anti-Covid measures, Germany has decided to use humour.

Getting out of the red

The Canaries continuing good performance in tackling the coronavirus means that the islands could soon be removed from the list of red “at-risk” regions in the European Centre for Disease Control’s (ECDC) traffic-light map.

Why migrants risk their lives

A report in El País newspaper has examined some of the reasons for why thousands of young Moroccans, and an increasing number of Senegalese, are risking their lives to get to the Canary Islands.

Moving in the right direction

Driving on the right hand side of the road can be a worrying transition for visitors arriving from the UK or Ireland (or Thailand, Japan, India or Australia). Here’s how to switch sides painlessly.

Canaries call for rapid antigen tests to be accepted

The Canarian government is negotiating to have rapid antigen tests included among the accepted methods of pre-travel testing, after fears that the cost and inconvenience of PCR tests will destroy the winter tourist season.

Test results required from 23rd November

From Monday, 23rd November, all visitors travelling to Spain from countries regarded as “at risk” will be required to show a negative result from a Covid-19 test carried out within the 72 hours prior to travel. The measure came into law this morning after being announced by Spain’s health minister Salvador Illa yesterday. Illa said that the law would “reinforce Spain as a safe destination”.

Knives out in Haría

A no-confidence vote in Haría is likely to remove the Socialist mayor, Alfredo Villalba, and replace him with Coalición Canaria (CC) councillor Chaxiraxi Nix. The affair combines local grudges, as well as heralding a possible revival of Canarian nationalism.

Vaccines to be administered in New Year

Spain's health minister, Salvador Illa, has announced that ten million Spaniards will be given the new coronavirus vaccine in the New Year. The recently-announced vaccine, which has been developed by Pfizer and has 90% effectiveness, will start to be distributed before the end of the year.