The President of the Canary Islands Government, Ángel Víctor Torres, said this Tuesday that the European Union (EU) has to "reflect" and start demanding PCR tests from travelers "before getting on the plane", because it gives security to the users themselves and to the tourist destination against the coronavirus.
In response to a question from ASG in the control session, he commented that the PCR "is the most reliable test" and some countries, such as France, are already "talking" about doing serological tests, hence he insists on "strengthening health measures to underpin the recovery of tourism".
Torres recalled that the Canary Islands was the first autonomous community to request the Ministry of Development to restrict flights, a sworn declaration from travelers and thermal control, and even signed a contract with an NGO to carry out temperature controls, but it "decayed" when the state of alarm was lifted.
The ASG spokesperson, Casimiro Curbelo, pointed out that the vaccine "is ideal" to control the pandemic but he does not expect it until the middle of next year, hence in the meantime we have to wait for the "responsibility" of the citizens, "which is not the best among young people".
He pointed out that during the state of alarm a "very important job" was done, but now at the origin "there is no control" and at the destination "it is random" and without controls in ports or airports.
As an example, he commented that on the last flight of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) 17 people arrived in La Gomera, seven with the test done and five refused to do it, hence they have moved around the island without knowing if they have Covid-19.
For this reason, Curbelo has asked that the mask "be mandatory" in the archipelago, with the only exception of when going to the beach, as well as trying to obtain "some reference" from travelers in their countries of origin and "maximize" security.
