Seven Dutch tourists who disappeared after being ordered to observe quarantine because they had tested positive for Covid-19 have been wanted since Friday by the Spanish authorities.
These tourists were on vacation in Navas del Madrono, in the region of Extremadura (west), when one of them fell ill and tested positive, said a spokeswoman for the regional authorities.
The other six having also been infected, the whole group was ordered to quarantine themselves but when the authorities visited them on Wednesday, they found no one in the accommodation of this town near Portugal where they were passing. their holiday.
“We don't know where they are.
If they left the country, they did so by land because if they were going to an airport, they would be asked to test negative and their situation would be revealed ”, said Friday Jose Maria Vergeles, in in charge of health within the regional government.
Infections on the rise in Spain
It is a "public health problem" and "the clear example of what not to do", added the official who alerted the international health authorities.
For its part, the Dutch foreign ministry said it was unaware of the case and denied Dutch media reports that the tourist group had requested consular support.
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Spain currently has one of the lowest contamination rates in Europe, due to its high vaccination rate.
But infections are on the rise again across the continent and the country exceeded 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants over the last 14 days, for the first time in more than two months, according to the Ministry of Health.