A “vaccination passport allowing international travel will be ready “in time for summer”, according to Angela Merkel, and “within three months”, according to EU Commissioner Ursula van der Leyen following Thursday’s virtual summit of EU leaders.

As Lanzarote and the Canaries improve their Covid figures, there is renewed talk of a return of tourism. Nevertheless, travel bans and lockdowns throughout Europe are likely to mean that the resorts will remain quiet for months to come.