The Ministry of Health of the Government of the Canary Islands has reported that next October 1st, "the order regarding the performance of screenings for national travelers upon arrival in the Canary Islands will not be extended", either by air or sea, which had been established in December to contain the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. As of October 1st, therefore, it will no longer be necessary for the population over 12 years of age to present a vaccination certificate against COVID-19, or a negative active infection test, or accreditation of having had the disease.
According to the Ministry, this measure is adopted taking into account "the favorable epidemiological evolution of the Archipelago, given that the Accumulated Incidence in the islands and in the rest of Spain is low and the vaccination level in both the Canary Islands and the rest of the Autonomous Communities is high." The traveler screening came into effect on December 18th and has been maintained uninterruptedly since then to stop the spread of the coronavirus and cover all those periods of high mobility motivated especially by vacations.
"94 percent of travelers who arrived in the Canary Islands from the rest of the national territory, by air or sea, since the implementation of screening at the islands' airports provided a negative active infection diagnostic test (PDIA) or the vaccination certificate against COVID-19," say from Health. In total, they note that 1,976,146 people were affected by this measure.
Health reminds that travelers who did not present any of the permitted certificates, or that it was not validated, "were identified, registered and required to isolate until obtaining the negative result of a diagnostic test at the destination." The diagnostic test for active infection, both at origin and destination, was free for travelers residing in the Canary Islands who came from the rest of the national territory and performed the test in the centers arranged by the Canarian Health Service for this purpose.
The control in tourist accommodations remains in force
However, Health clarifies that the rule that regulates the conditions of access to tourist accommodations in the Canary Islands "remains in force", by which those over 12 years of age must present in the hotel premises a vaccination certificate, negative active infection diagnostic test or having overcome the disease.
The Ministry clarifies that people who accredit the condition of resident in the Canary Islands and declare under their responsibility not to have left their territory in the 15 days prior to their arrival at the establishment are excluded, and that in addition, in that period they have not had symptoms compatible with COVID-19.
Also, people, regardless of their place of residence, who accredit having been outside the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands for a period of less than 72 hours prior to arrival, having remained in their territory for the 15 days prior to the aforementioned period of absence of less than 72 hours, and who also declare under their responsibility that in that period they have not had symptoms compatible with COVID-19.
