But what about other European vacation destinations? The data shows that coronavirus infection rates are currently increasing in many European countries.
While case rates in many countries are low, figures from the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) show that the numbers of positive tests in many of them are increasing.
While we don’t know exactly what threshold the government required to impose its quarantine measures, the table Spain shows why they had to act.
Spain currently has a relatively high rate – one of the highest in Europe, with 39.4 cases per 100,000 population occurring in the past fifteen weeks.
But the number of people testing positive has also exploded, with the infection rate dropping from 11/100,000 in the two weeks to July 12.
This means that 260% more people tested positive in the last fortnight compared to the previous two weeks.
Currently, none of the major vacation destinations are experiencing similar rate increases.
But there are places in Europe, including those where travel restrictions have been removed by the Foreign Office (FCO), that are seeing rapid rate hikes.
Most notable is Luxembourg – a country that sits between its much larger neighbors France, Germany and Belgium, but has a relatively small population. Still, he is exempt from FCO advice to avoid all but essential travel.
Luxembourg has seen infection rates drop from an already high level of 101 / 100,000 to 219 / 100,000 – a rate that brings it closer to the two-week rate for the WE or Brazil.
The Balkans are also seeing rates skyrocket, with Montenegro particularly hard hit – but the FCO is currently advising against all but essential travel to the Adriatic coast country.
Other Balkan countries, most of which are not exempt from advice on all trips except essential trips, also have high fares.
There is always fear that these high infection rates will cross borders to places that are popular with vacationers, such as Greece or Croatia.
The FCO always advises against any travel but essential Sweden and continent Portugal, because of their previously high rates.
But what the ECDC figures also show is that rates vary widely within each country – as they do in the UK.
Even in Spain, many areas have a case rate of less than 20 / 100,000, which is lower than the rate in Birmingham or Swindon. It is the Spanish region of Aragon, where rates are now above 230/100 000, and to a lesser extent Navarre and Catalonia, which distort the national image of Spain as a whole.
ECDC figures show that there are parts of Hungary, Italy and Norway where no cases have been reported in the past two weeks.
The situation in the 10 EU / EFTA countries most visited by UK residents, according to the Office for National Statistics, with the evolution of the number of cases at two weeks based on a comparison of number of cases between June 29 and July 12 with the number of cases between July 13 and July 26 is as follows:
1. Spain
Annual UK visitors: 18.1 million
Two-week infection rate: 39.4 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 260%
The foreign minister told Sky News on Sunday that the government received data on Friday showing a ‘big jump’ COVID-19[feminine[feminine cases across Spain, prompting him to demand that all arrivals to the UK be quarantined for two weeks. He changed the travel advice for mainland Spain, but has yet to do so for the Balearics and the Canaries, which both have lower infection levels.
2. France
Annual UK visitors: 10.3 million
Two-week infection rate: 14.6 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 25%
The UK is reportedly looking into France but so far the increase in infections has been significantly lower than in Spain, with no part of the country, according to the ECDC, showing rates above 20 / 100,000. The two week rate is exactly the same as the UK rate – 14.6 / 100,000.
3. Italy
Annual UK visitors: 5.1 million
Two-week infection rate: 5 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 12%
Rates in Italy have fallen to their lowest levels since the pandemic took off until recently, despite being the original epicenter of Europe. Italy has taken further steps to reduce infection rates, including banning people from 16 hard-hit countries.
Italy was the original epicenter of the epidemic in Europe
4. Republic of Ireland
Annual UK visitors: 4.7 million
Two-week infection rate: 5.3 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 48%
Ireland has one of the lowest infection rates in Europe and recently lifted its 14-day quarantine requirement for people coming from 15 European countries. The rate appears to have risen sharply over the past fortnight, but the low number of cases may skew the figure.
Some people wear face masks as they walk past Dublin stores
5. Netherlands
Annual UK visitors: 3.5 million
Two-week infection rate: 10.5 / 100,000
Number change compared to the previous fortnight: 113%
The Netherlands is experiencing an increase in the number of infections, but from a fairly low level. The government has also advised its residents against traveling to parts of Spain, but has yet to require a quarantine for arrivals nationwide.
Infection rates rise in the Netherlands
6. Greece
Annual UK visitors: 3.4 million
Two week infection rate: 3.7 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: -3%
Greece has continued to post low infection rates, which are also falling, despite countries on its northern border seeing cases soar.
The Acropolis of Athens and other ancient Greek sites reopened
7. Germany
Annual UK visitors: 3.3 million
Two-week infection rate: 7.8 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 21%
Germany, like France, would be among the countries under review by the UK government, but – aside from isolated outbreaks and steadily rising rates from a low base – the country currently shows no signs of rapid growth. infections.
Buyers exit in Berlin as Germany carefully lifts lockdown
8. Portugal
Annual UK visitors: 3.3 million
Two-week infection rate: 36.3 / 100,000
Evolution of the workforce compared to the previous fortnight: -25%
Portugal, which is visited by millions of Britons every year, is the only popular European destination that is not currently exempt from FCO advice against all travel except essential travel. He has had high infection rates (compared to other European countries) for several months but is seeing infection rates drop steadily. If the direction of travel remains the same, the FCO may include it among countries exempt from advice against all but essential travel.
Some tourists wearing protective masks while walking through Lisbon, Portugal
9. Poland
Annual UK visitors: 3.3 million
Two-week infection rate: 13.4 / 100,000
Change in number compared to the previous fortnight: 34%
Like many of its neighbors in central and northeastern Europe, Poland has been exempted from general FCO advice against all travel except essential travel because it has seen infection rates remain relatively low. But, on Monday, his health ministry said it expects to see an upsurge in the number of new infections in the southern Silesian region due to outbreaks in mining areas.
10. Turkey
Annual UK visitors: 2.3 million
Two-week infection rate: 16.1 / 100,000
Evolution of the workforce compared to the previous fortnight: -18%
Turkey has also recovered after being hit quite hard at the start. Its rates are now relatively low, the strict measures enforced by the government seem to have worked, and rates continue to fall.
