the PM warns of Europe ‘second wave’ amid Spain restrictions

Boris Johnson has warned the nation that there are signs of a ‘second wave’ of COVID-19 in Europe, and has defended a 14-day quarantine for those arriving into the UK from Spain

The Prime Minister has said that the British government had to be “swift” with its decision and that his cabinet would continue to take further action on travel restrictions “where it is necessary”.

It comes after the Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has referred to the UK government’s decision to change the rules on travel for Spain as “unjust”.

The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has said that tourists in most regions in Spain would be safer from COVID-19 than if they remained in the United Kingdom.

This comes after the decision from the UK government to implement a 14-day quarantine on those arriving into the UK from Spain was “unjust”, the Spanish Prime Minister has said.

The UK is advising against any non-essential travel of Britons to Spain, which includes the Canary and the Balearic Islands. The British government has also removed Spain and its islands from the list of countries that are exempt from the newly introduced 14-day quarantine law.

At the same time, Germany has also advised against travel to three different regions of Spain.

Speaking during a visit to Nottinghamshire, Mr Johnson said: “What we have to do is take swift and decisive action where we think that the risks are starting to bubble up again.

“Let’s be absolutely clear about what’s happening in Europe, amongst some of our European friends, I’m afraid you are starting to see in some places the signs of a second wave of the pandemic.”

When questioned on reports that the 14-day quarantine period could be reduced, as reported by the Daily Telegraph, Mr Johnson said: “we are always looking at ways in which we can mitigate the impact of the quarantine”.

“At the moment you have got to stick with the guidance that we are giving, we have given the guidance now about Spain and about some other places around the world.”

This comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told Members of Parliaments that there was “no smoking gun” in the now-released Russia report, as opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer claimed that the Prime Minister “sat on” the “extremely serious” report.

When asked if the 14-day quarantine period could be scrapped, Baroness Vere, the government’s transport minister, said that it was “looking at a range of options” which includes “testing people on certain days” after arrival.

The Prime Minister has said that if the UK did see signs of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in other European countries, it was the government’s duty to prevent travellers from returning and spreading the coronavirus.

“It’s vital that when people are coming back from abroad, if they are coming back from a place where I’m afraid there is another outbreak, they must go into quarantine,” he said.

“That’s why we have taken the action that we have and we will continue, throughout the summer, to take such action where it is necessary.”