UK removes Spain from list of virus safe countries

The U.K. on Saturday removed Spain from its list of safe countries to travel to after the country measured a spike in new coronavirus cases.

The decision means those visiting Spain will have to quarantine for 14 days following their return to the U.K.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the U.K. Jonathan Van-Tam said the decision came after a "tipping point" with "new data about the level of disease" in the European country.

Anybody returning to the U.K. from Spain, either from the mainland or the Balearic and the Canary Islands after midnight BST will be required to self-isolate.

Commenting on the government's response, Van-Tam said "things can change very quickly" and added that "things have changed quite remarkably fast in Spain."

"We do not wish to delay, we wish to protect the public health" he said.