Sunday, 17 Nov 2024

Coronavirus: Anger as tourists’ behaviour in Magaluf triggers second wave fears

The behaviour of tourists in Magaluf has triggered fears of a second wave of coronavirus in Spain after crowds of holidaymakers were filmed partying in the street.

Video posted on social media, purportedly from Majorca’s Punta Ballena party strip over the weekend, showed a large group of people chanting in English while stood close together and hugging each other, without wearing face masks.

The footage, which also shows several men climb on top of a car and jump on the vehicle, caught the attention of German health minister Jens Spahn, as Magaluf – or Ballermann in German – is also hugely popular there.

He said: “The pandemic isn’t over. We are still in the middle of it. We have to try to prevent infections, particularly now in the holiday season.

“We must be very careful that Ballermann does not cause a second wave.”

After the footage appeared online, one person wrote: “Barbaric! Is this the kind of tourism we need or want?”

Someone else posted in Spanish: “Parts of Spain in lockdown, the elderly shut away in care homes, we all wear masks in the street, but in Magaluf the antisocial and irresponsible Brits do whatever they please. It’s shameful.”

Another person wrote: “How marvellous the quality tourism we get in Spain is. We’ll never get out of this misery…”

One British person commented: “As a Brit I am appalled by these Britons both our countries were hit hard by the pandemic.”

Since Monday, masks have been made compulsory in Spain’s Balearic Islands, with tourists facing €100 (£89) fines if they fail to abide by the restrictions.

Anyone caught without a mask in a public place will face a spot fine, unless while at beaches, using swimming pools or playing sport.

People in the UK are currently free to holiday in Spain without having to quarantine for 14 days at either end.

Spain was hit hard in the early stages of Europe’s COVID-19 outbreak, but has now launched a new “Spain for Sure” tourism campaign to encourage foreigners to visit.

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