travel to menorca covid

Travel Advice inc. Covid

With covid-19 updates, menorca travellers advice.

Menorca is an easy scale destination to travel to with a modern airport

Good to Know

What to expect?

• Mahon Airport Guide

Menorca is an island bathed in sunshine and blessed with many beautiful beaches, coves and pristine landscapes.

Good to know

Travelling to menorca - what to expect.

Menorca is small scale with a modern Airport, that just works very pleasantly on a personal scale - no great distances and good facilities too. Most holiday travellers arrive by Air - our Menorca Airport . You can also Travel by Ferry . With regards to Airport arrivals there are no public or scheduled shuttle services so please checkout our guide to Taxi and Airport Transfers .

Menorca Covid-19 Regulations

Spain removed all Covid 19 requirements for arrivals from all most every country - currently China is NOT exempt. Please note things may be liable to change at short notice so use the links to information provided.

Travel to Menorca

You must observe current UK Travel regulations , Balearics Travel regulations ( Menorca,Majorca,Ibiza and Formentera ) and any restrictions if via EU country eg mainland Spain EU COVID travel

Always check your Airlines procedures

Mask wearing Rules

Only public Transport eg Buses and in Taxis, others you are free to choose.

Menorca Holiday Directory

All you need to make your Holiday or Short stay more memorable

Menorca's Attractions

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Tours & Excursions

Kayak,Cycle,Jeep

Boat Excursions

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Before you travel check that:

• your destination can provide the healthcare you may need
• you have appropriate travel insurance for local treatment or unexpected medical evacuation

This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.

Emergency medical number

Dial 112 and ask for an ambulance.

Contact your insurance or medical assistance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.

Vaccine recommendations and health risks

At least 8 weeks before your trip:

• check the latest vaccine recommendations for Spain
• see where to get vaccines and whether you have to pay on the NHS travel vaccinations page

See what health risks you’ll face in Spain , including:

• biting insects and ticks

Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Spain. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro .

The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries. There are details in the guide to getting healthcare in Spain .

Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro .

Healthcare in Spain

FCDO has a list of medical providers in Spain where some staff will speak English.

Health insurance cards

To get medically necessary state healthcare in Spain, you need a Global Health Insurance Card ( GHIC ) or a European Health Insurance Card ( EHIC ). 

The NHS’s getting healthcare abroad webpage has details about:

• how to apply for a GHIC
• how to get temporary cover if you lose your card or it does not arrive in time
• who qualifies for a new EHIC instead of a GHIC
• what treatment counts as medically necessary

A GHIC or EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. You may have costs your GHIC or EHIC does not cover, including:

• changes to travel and accommodation bookings
• additional standard costs for treatment
• medical repatriation to the UK
• treatment that is ruled non-urgent

There is more guidance on healthcare if you’re visiting Spain . There is also guidance on healthcare if you’re living in Spain .

Hospital treatment

If you need hospital treatment in Spain, you’re more likely to receive appropriate care in public healthcare facilities. However, in some tourist areas there may not be any public healthcare facilities nearby. Your insurance or medical assistance company will be able to provide further details.

Some hotels may call private doctors or ambulances to take patients to private hospitals. The GHIC or EHIC will not be accepted there.

Use of face masks

Due to an increase in respiratory infections such as flu and COVID-19, you may have to wear a face mask at doctors’ surgeries, hospitals and pharmacies. Rules on face masks may vary by region. Follow the advice of the local authorities and make sure you are aware of the measures in place.

Travel and mental health

Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health . There is also guidance on TravelHealthPro .

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Travelling to Spain’s Balearic Islands? These are the new COVID-19 rules you need to know about

THE Balearic Islands has introduced new restrictions in response to a surge in coronavirus cases.

These measures will come into force from this Saturday, July 24, and are aimed at curbing a sharp increase in infections among young people.

Announced by government spokesman and tourism minister Iago Negueruela, this new set of restrictions hopes to crackdown on illegal house parties and  outdoor drinks gatherings known as botellons .

Social gatherings between people that do not live together will now be prohibited between the hours of 1am and 6am both indoors and outdoors.

Those found breaking the rule will be fined between €1,000 and €5,000.

Bars and restaurants across the Balearics will also have to close at 1am, one hour earlier than the current closing hour .

The minister explained that the objective of these two measures would be to ‘directly stop the excesses’, meaning the consumption of large amounts of alcohol, and to ‘control spaces where the most number of infections are originating from’.

“These are aimed at two activities, botellons and illegal parties, as well as people between 16 and 39 years old,” said Negueruela.

As well as having to close one hour earlier, bars and restaurants must also reduce the number of diners sat at each table.

Indoors, this will be capped from six to four people, and on terraces, from 12 to eight people.

In regards to the outdoor use of face masks, revealed on Monday to be part of the new set of restrictions , the minister said that after internal discussions, this rule would not now be reintroduced.

“At this moment, we will not toughen the conditions of the face mask, however, we recommend their use when the distance of a meter and a half cannot be guaranteed,” added Negueruela.

Pressed on the new restrictions at a press conference this morning, president Francina Armengol defended the measures, citing that they ‘were absolutely necessary’.

“The prohibition of social gatherings from 1am has been enforced to fight against botellons , crowds and late night parties,” said Armengol.

“We must all remember that these are the two activites where the largest number of infections are being detected.”

It comes as a COVID-19 outbreak has been detected in the Posada dels Olors nursing home in Arta.

Although not revealing the number of elderly people who have tested positive, health minister Patricia Gomez said that ‘most do not have symptoms or have in a very mild form’.

• LATEST: Spain’s Balearic Islands downgraded to amber on UK travel list
• Spain’s Balearic Islands BAN sale of alcohol in shops after 10pm in bid to crackdown on ‘super-spreader’ parties
• Spain tightens rules on all UK travellers (including to Balearic Islands): PCR tests or double vaccination proof now needed

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Covid rules for Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera in Spain's Balearic Islands

There are different rules on how you can socialise across the Balearic Islands

• 15:05, 15 FEB 2022
• Updated 11:44, 17 FEB 2022

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The Balearic Islands are a popular choice with tourists from Britain thanks to direct flights to the likes of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza and warmer winter temperatures.

While England is set to face Storms Dudley and Eunice this week, Mallorca - sometimes spelled in English as Majorca - will be enjoying the sunshine. Over half-term week, the BBC's early forecasts say holidaymakers can expect sunny days and temperatures of up to 17C, compared to 9C in Newcastle. After almost two years of Covid-19 restrictions, it's easy to see why a winter trip to Spain's Mediterranean islands is tempting this February.

There are direct flights from Newcastle to Palma, Mallorca, running now via EasyJet, but the airport's direct links to Menorca and Ibiza will not resume until March, via Ryanair, and then later in the season from Jet2. Those wanting to fly from Newcastle to Ibiza or Menorca before March can do so via airports like Amsterdam, Alicante and Palma.

Read more : Canary Islands Covid rules

Spain recently changed its coronavirus rules to allow in children who are not fully vaccinated , if they can produce a negative PCR test. Adults travelling to Spain from the UK as tourists must be fully vaccinated.

In addition to Spain's rules - which require masks to be worn indoors and on public transport, and people to keep 1.5m apart - there are different regional rules throughout the country.

The Balearic Islands of Mallorca (sometimes spelled Majorca), Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera set their own rules on closing times, dancing, and the number of people who can be inside a venue at any time.

Spain Covid-19 entry requirements including vaccines and boosters for UK tourists

To enter Spain as a tourist from the UK, adults must be fully vaccinated. For those who have had a two-jab vaccine, like Moderna, AstraZeneca or Pfizer, or a one-shot vaccine, like Janssen, that means they must have had their final shot at least 14 days before travel and no more than 270 days before travel.

Those whose final jab was more than 270 days ago will require a booster jab, although you do not need to wait 14 days after your booster for it to be valid.

Those who are fully vaccinated or aged under 12 do not have to take a Covid test before travelling to Spain.

All tourists aged over six must complete a Health Control Form .

The vaccine requirement applies to tourists aged over 12 travelling from the UK, but 12 to 17-year-olds who are not fully vaccinated can enter Spain if they produce a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of their journey, the UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Office has confirmed.

Covid rules and restrictions in Spain - including Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera (Balearic Islands)

There are coronavirus safety rules that apply throughout Spain. These must be followed in addition to extra regulations set by the Balearic Islands Government.

Masks must be worn indoors and at some large events. It is no longer a requirement to wear a mask outdoors in Spain, although in some situations you will have to. You can remove your mask to eat and drink.

The FCO says : "The use of face coverings is mandatory for anyone over the age of six years old on all forms of public transport in Spain and in many other indoor public spaces. Face masks are also mandatory at large, open air, standing events and seated events where social distancing of 1.5m cannot be observed. There are no other requirements to wear face masks outdoors."

Spain still has a social distancing requirement, set at a distance of 1.5 metres. Spain no longer requires a Covid pass to visit venues.

Within the Balearic Islands, there are extra rules to follow as well.

Covid rules and restrictions in the Balearic Islands

The Balearic Islands have their own additional Covid rules which must be followed in addition to the laws that apply to all of Spain.

The rules can differ from island to island too. Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera are under level 4 restrictions, which are stricter than the level 3 rules which apply in Menorca.

Throughout the islands, there is no general curfew, and venues can mostly close at the time agreed on the licence.

What are the Covid rules for Ibiza, Mallorca, and Formentera, in Level 4

According to the Balearic Tourism Agency (Agencia de Turismo de Baleares), Ibiza, Mallorca and Formentera are all under level four rules.

• No curfew is in place.
• Bars and restaurants (that are not music or late night led) can operate at 100% capacity indoors and outdoors. There are no limits on the number of people sat at a table and no limit on closing times, other than the one usually set by the venue's licence
• Music bars and late-night bars are only allowed 75% capacity indoors, and 100% outdoors.
• No smoking in the interior or exterior areas of venues, including terraces
• "Cultural events" can run at 80% indoors and 100% outdoors

Ibiza aims to reopen most nightclubs as normal from April, reports Mix Mag .

What are the Covid rules for Menorca in Level 3?

• No curfew is in place
• Bars and restaurants at 100% capacity, inside and outside. No per person limit on tables. No set closing time
• Late night and music bars can open at 100% capacity, with no per person limit on tables
• No smoking in interior or exterior areas

Go here for the latest coronavirus updates and breaking Covid-19 news

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Travel 2021: What are Majorca and Ibiza’s entry requirements and Covid rules?

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Many holidaymakers have been left disappointed with the news that Majorca and Ibiza will be moving from the green list to the amber list from July 19.

Travellers from England have been able to fly to either Balearic Island (as well as Menorca) on holiday since June 30, without having to quarantine upon return to the UK.

But now they are moving back to the amber list , travellers who are not fully vaccinated have to quarantine for 10 days upon their return after July 19.

Fully vaccinated and under 18’s will not need to quarantine, but will have to take a PCR test on day two of their return.

IF you do travel to ‘Biza or Majorca, what are the entry requirements, and what happens when you arrive?

Here’s everything you need to know.

What are Majorca and Ibiza’s entry requirements for UK travellers?

Since July 2, all travellers have had to show a negative Covid-19 test or proof of vaccination in order to enter.

Before you leave the UK, you’ll need to take a PCR test and have a negative result no more than 48 hours before you go.

The rules, announced by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, affect visitors to Majorca, Ibiza and surrounding islands and have been put in place following a surge in Delta variant cases across the UK.

He told Cadena SER radio: ‘What we are going to do is apply to British tourists who go to the Balearic islands the same requirements we make of other European citizens.

‘They will need a full dose of vaccine or a negative PCR (Covid-19 test).’

When you arrive anywhere in Spain – including Majorca and Ibiza – you’ll be asked to fill in a pre-travel declaration form .

You’ll likely receive a health check (usually a temperature check) at the airport, before you can enjoy your holiday.

You won’t need to self-isolate when you arrive at either island.

What are Majorca and Ibiza’s Covid lockdown rules?

Face masks are still mandatory in public indoor spaces, including public transport.

Only those with health exemptions are excluded from the rule, as is anyone who is eating, drinking or exercising outdoors.

You’ll be able to visit bars and restaurants, but such venues are at a limited 50% capacity indoors and close at 2am.

It’s still required that you regularly wash your hands, and maintain a social distance in public.

Finally, everywhere in Spain recommends the download and use of tracking app RadarCovid .

Do you have to quarantine when you return from the Balearic Islands?

From July 19, some travellers will have to quarantine on return from the Balearic Islands

As the Balearic Islands move to the amber list from 4am on July 19, anyone who isn’t fully vaccinated will need to complete 10 days quarantine upon their return.

During that period, they will need to take a test on day two and day eight of their self-isolation.

Anyone who has had both doses of the vaccine, or is under the age of 18 will not need to isolate upon return but will need to take a PCR test two days after their arrival.

If you do test positive, or someone you’ve travelled with tests positive, you’ll need to self-isolate for at least ten days.

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These rules are correct at time of writing but may be subject to change – keep an eye on the  latest government guidance and the  Illes Balears travel site for the latest information.

MORE : Can I travel to Croatia this summer and what are the entry requirements?

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Open Access

Peer-reviewed

Research Article

A large outbreak of COVID-19 linked to an end of term trip to Menorca (Spain) by secondary school students in summer 2021

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Software, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft

* E-mail: [email protected]

Affiliations Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – review & editing

Affiliations Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Madrid, Spain, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain

Roles Conceptualization, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain

Roles Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Visualization, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Supervision, Validation, Writing – review & editing

Affiliation Subdirecció General de Vigilància i Resposta a Emergències de Salut Pública, Agència de Salut Pública de Catalunya, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Roles Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Validation, Writing – review & editing

Roles Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing

Roles Conceptualization, Data curation, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Methodology, Project administration, Resources, Supervision, Validation, Visualization, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing

• Lluís Forcadell-Díez, 
• Cristina Rius, 
• Raúl Salobral, 
• Nacho Sánchez-Valdivia, 
• Jacobo Mendioroz, 
• Pere Godoy, 
• Elisabet Badiella Jarque, 
• David Ferrandiz-Mont, 
• Daniel Moreno Cervera, 

• Published: February 3, 2023
• https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614
• Reader Comments

An outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) occurred in young people from Catalonia (Spain) who travelled to Menorca (Spain) in summer 2021. This outbreak appeared when governments relaxed Covid-19 preventive measures: the mask usage and the opening of nightlife. It was related to a super-disseminating mass event: Sant Joan festivities in Ciutadella. The aim of this article is to describe an outbreak of COVID-19 in young people aged 17–19 years from Catalonia travelling to Menorca.

This is an observational study of a COVID-19 outbreak. The study population comprised Catalonian youth aged 17–19 years who travelled to Menorca from 15 June to 10 July. Epidemiological descriptive indicators were obtained. Descriptive and geographical statistics were carried out. Bivariate Moran’s I test was used to identify spatial autocorrelation between the place of residence and deprivation. The outbreak control method was based on identifying and stopping chains of transmission by implementing the test-trace-isolate-quarantine (TTIQ) strategy.

We identified 515 confirmed cases infected in Menorca, 296 (57.5%) in girls and 219 (42.5%) in boys, with a total of 2,280 close contacts. Of them, 245 (10.7%) were confirmed as cases. The cases were diagnosed between 15 June and 10 July. None of the persons with confirmed infection died or required hospitalisation. The attack rate was 27.2%. There was an inverse relationship between deprivation and number of confirmed cases (p<0.005), there were clusters of confirmed cases in the most socioeconomic favoured areas.

The outbreak is related with young people from socioeconomic favoured areas who travelled to Menorca in summer 2021. Failure to comply with preventive measures in binge-drinking events and during holidays may have favoured SARS-CoV-2 transmission. The interauthority coordination and establishment of a clear line of leadership allowed continuous communication between institutions, which were key to managing this complex COVID-19 outbreak.

Citation: Forcadell-Díez L, Rius C, Salobral R, Sánchez-Valdivia N, Mendioroz J, Godoy P, et al. (2023) A large outbreak of COVID-19 linked to an end of term trip to Menorca (Spain) by secondary school students in summer 2021. PLoS ONE 18(2): e0280614. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614

Editor: Jordi Camps, Hospital Universitat de Sant Joan, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, SPAIN

Received: June 22, 2022; Accepted: December 20, 2022; Published: February 3, 2023

Copyright: © 2023 Forcadell-Díez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Data Availability: All relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting Information files.

Funding: The authors received no specific funding for this work.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Introduction

At the end of epidemiological week 23, which ended on June 13, 2021, transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), causing coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19), had been decreasing both in Catalonia and in Europe from April. In Catalonia, the two week incidence (CI14) was 93 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants [ 1 ], while in Europe it was 72 per 100,000, national range 9–154 [ 2 ]. By age group, the CI14 was 118 per 100,000 inhabitants among 10–19 year-olds and 157 per 100,000 inhabitants among 20–29 year-olds ( Fig 1 ). On 13 June, 43.3% of the population in Catalonia had received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, and 26.6% were fully vaccinated, with 2 doses [ 3 ]. The percentage of positive reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)/rapid antigen tests (RAT) was 3.8%. Only 4 weeks later, the CI14 in Catalonia was among the highest in Europe at 1,092 per 100,000. The CI14 was 1,684 per 100,000 inhabitants in the group aged 10–19 years and was 3,640 per 100,000 in people aged 20–29 years ( Fig 1 ).

• PPT PowerPoint slide
• PNG larger image
• TIFF original image

Data for Catalonia was obtained from public repository https://dadescovid.cat ; Data for Menorca was obtained from public repository https://www.ibsalut.es/coronavirus-covid-19/situacio-actual-de-la-covid-19-a-les-illes-balears . Covid-19 preventive measures were obtained from the Butlletí Oficial de les Illes Balears http://www.caib.es/boib/.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.g001

The end-of-year trip is a long-awaited moment for all secondary school students. In Catalonia, the trips take place at the end of the school year in the last years of secondary school, ISCED-4, in the International Standard Classification of Education [ 4 ]. Trips are usually organized after the university entrance exams at the beginning of June. A typical destination is Menorca (Balearic Islands, Spain), a medium-sized island with 95,641 inhabitants [ 5 ]. The most important festivities in Menorca (the night of Sant Joan) take place on 23 June, in Ciutadella, when tens of thousands of people gather at beaches and clubs. These festivities are usually attended by young people from Catalonia. Many of them usually arrive a few days previously. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Sant Joan festivities were cancelled on April 1 [ 6 ]. In June, the epidemiological situation in Menorca was favourable, with a CI14 of 36. On 15 June, the Government of the Balearic Islands authorized the opening of nightlife and restaurants until 02.00 am ( Fig 1 ). It also extended capacity to 75% of full capacity if masks were worn. There was no limit on social and family gatherings. Restrictions at ports and airports included passport control for national and international travellers [ 7 ].

Epidemiological surveillance in Catalonia is organised through the Subdirectorate General for Public Health Emergency Surveillance and Response of the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT). This institution has central services, in contact with their stakeholders at the national level, and different local services, which carry out field epidemiology. In the city of Barcelona, this role is carried out by the Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB), which acts as the health authority. In outbreaks that territorially exceed a local service, the epidemiological investigation is conducted from the place where the transmission occurred, or from the place with the highest number of cases. The usual coordination mechanisms between local and central services include a weekly inter-territorial meeting and additional technical coordination if necessary.

On Wednesday, 23 June, 2021 several primary healthcare centres in the city of Barcelona identified a total of 21 cases of COVID-19 in young people. The centres quickly reported the aggregation of cases to the ASPB, in the city, and stated that transmission may have been encouraged by a trip. In one of the centres, 3 cases with epidemiological links were confirmed and the affected individuals reported they had been infected during an end-of-year trip to Menorca [ 8 ]. They were the first young people returning from Menorca. At the same time, other local services, such as Tarragona, Vallès and Girona, had already detected cases of COVID-19 in young people from Menorca. When the ASPB reported the outbreak, the epidemiological link was quickly found with cases from other local services.

The aim of this article is to describe an outbreak of COVID-19 in young people aged 17–19 years from Catalonia travelling to Menorca. Study of this outbreak allows us to broaden our knowledge of the social factors favouring transmission of COVID-19, particularly in young people.

Study design and definitions of cases and close contacts

This is an observational study of a COVID-19 outbreak [ 9 ].

We defined a suspected case as any person with a clinical manifestation of an acute respiratory infection of sudden onset of any severity that presents, among others, fever, cough, or shortness of breath. Other symptoms such as rhinorrhoea, nasal congestion, sternness, headaches, odynophagia, anosmia, agenesis, muscular pain, diarrhoea, chest pain or headaches, among others, may also be considered symptoms of suspected SARSCoV-2 infection according to clinical criteria. SARS-CoV-2 testing was performed on oropharyngeal swabs taken by healthcare workers. Both the RAT and RT-PCR were considered valid diagnostic tests. However, in one suspected case with a negative RAT result, RT-PCR was performed [ 8 ]. The swabs were analysed by authorised laboratories. These authorised laboratories recorded the results of these tests and reported either confirmed cases or genome sequence results to the public health authorities.

We defined a confirmed case as a person with a positive RT-PCR or RAT test result for SARS-CoV-2 [ 8 ]. Thus, only those persons with positive diagnostic tests were considered confirmed cases. Confirmed cases were defined as symptomatic if they had fever, cough, or shortness of breath and as asymptomatic if they had no symptoms. The inclusion criteria for the consideration of primary confirmed case in this outbreak were diagnosis between 15 June and 10 July, age between 17 and 19 years, and a history of travel to Menorca. A wide time interval was established to avoid loss of cases.

We defined a close contact as any person who had been in the same location as a primary case, within 2 metres´ distance, and for a total cumulative time of 15 minutes or more, within 24 hours of the 48 hours before symptom onset in symptomatic individuals or before a positive test result in asymptomatic persons [ 8 ]. Mask use was not considered in the determination of close contacts due to young people´s poor adherence to this preventive measure in leisure and festive settings. We defined a secondary confirmed case as any person who was in close contact with a confirmed primary case with a positive RT-PCR or RAT test result and who did not travel to Menorca.

Study population and management of cases and close contacts

The study population comprised Catalonian youth aged 17–19 years who travelled to Menorca from 15 June to 10 July. To obtain the study population, we carried out an extraction of COVID-19 registers of the Catalonian Department of Health. During the study period, confirmed cases occurred in 8,710 youth aged 17–19 years ( Fig 2 ). These youth were contacted by telephone to identify those who were in Menorca. The telephone calls were carried out by Public Health Case Agents, people trained to conduct both epidemiological surveys ( S1 and S2 Appendices ) and contact tracing [ 10 ]. The agents also explained how to reduce the risk of transmission to cohabitants, including cleaning, ventilation, and room segregation measures. Of the total number of young people, 8,378 (94.1%) could be contacted. In 332 cases (3.8%), no telephone contact was made, as the number was not available or was not taken; thus, they were excluded from the study. Among those contacted, 515 (6.3%) had travelled to Menorca. They were the primary cases in our study. A total of 2,280 close contacts were identified. They were telephoned by Public Health Close Contacts Agents to schedule RT-PCR tests at their primary healthcare centres and to recommend quarantine measures. Among the close contacts, 245 (10.7%) were confirmed as secondary cases. The same agents followed up close contacts and control measures on days 7 and 10 from the last date of contact with the confirmed case [ 10 ].

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.g002

Outbreak analysis and information sources

Descriptive statistics were carried out. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of confirmed cases. The main variable was being a confirmed case. Explanatory variables consisted of sociodemographic variables (age, sex, and place of residence), case criteria (primary or secondary), the test performed (RT-PCR or RAT), symptoms (symptomatic, asymptomatic), episode (first COVID-19 infection or reinfection), trip planning (self-organised or travel agency), accommodation (tourist apartment rental, private house, hotel, tourist complex or rural house), and attendance at parties (yes or no and if yes what kind of parties).

The attack rate was calculated by dividing the number of cases by the sum of cases and its close contacts. People who were close contacts of 2 or more cases were considered as one. Epidemiological curves were traced. The effect of the outbreak on the evolution of Covid-19 in Catalonia was approximated by calculating the percentage of cases of this outbreak with respect to the total number of young people in the affected age group. All analyses were stratified by sex.

Confirmed cases were georeferenced and assigned to their primary healthcare areas for geographical analysis. We use the incidence as dependent variable and the Composite socioeconomic index (CSI). The CSI is an index of deprivation used to assign the budgets of the primary healthcare areas in Catalonia (Spain) and is valid both in urban and rural areas [ 11 ]. Descriptive geographical analysis was carried out using Choropleth maps. We carried out a cluster analysis and we tested the spatial autocorrelation using univariate and bivariate Moran’s I test with 199 permutations.

Individuals’ sociodemographic variables and vaccination status were obtained from Central Health Registry of the Catalonian Health Service ( Table 1 ). Clinical variables, risk factors and social needs were obtained from an epidemiological survey [ 10 ] ( S1 Appendix ). Transport to the island, accommodation, travel arrangements, attendance at parties and follow-up of preventive measures during the trip were obtained from an ad-hoc epidemiological survey of Menorca ( S2 Appendix ), conducted in response to this outbreak.

Catalonia, June, and July of 2021.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.t001

Statistical analyses were carried out using the statistical software STATA v15. Geographical analyses were carried out using the geographical software GeoDa. Choropleth maps were obtained using Datawrapper tool. Figures were created using Excel and PowerPoint software.

Qualitative analysis

A qualitative phenomenological study [ 12 ] was conducted to understand the young people’s perceptions of the risk and transmission of COVID-19 in the context of the outbreak, the activities that may have encouraged transmission, and the organisation of the trip. The sample was obtained through convenience sampling, augmented by the snowball strategy. In addition to the epidemiological surveys, 13 interviews were conducted with confirmed cases aged 17–18 years who had a history of travel to Menorca. Interviews were conducted by telephone by researchers used to dealing with young people [ 13 ]. These interviews were not recorded; the most relevant aspects of each were summarised in a research notebook. The researchers conducted an interpretative thematic content analysis. The young people were guaranteed the confidentiality of their contributions and oral consent was requested to proceed with the interviews.

Outbreak control measures

Due to the size of the outbreak, the setting, and the epidemiological situation in Catalonia, the outbreak investigation was conducted under time and resource constraints. We followed the testy-trace-isolate-quarantine (TTIQ) intervention strategy [ 14 ], giving priority to screening and isolation of suspected cases of COVID-19, as well as tracing, quarantine and testing of close contacts ( Table 2 ). This strategy was complemented by enhanced surveillance, an active search for cases possibly involved in the outbreak, and the identification of exposures and activities conducive to transmission. Two actions were taken in this regard: a) the Epidemiological Surveillance Emergency Service of Catalonia (SUVEC) recontacted all confirmed cases in Catalonia aged 17–19 years diagnosed after 15 June to identify possible cases not previously identified as part of the outbreak; b) active case-finding, with screening points set up in the urban settings. Local services in Girona, Vallès and Tarragona systematically contacted travel agencies to identify venues and activities where exposure occurred.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.t002

Ethical concerns

This outbreak report is exempt from the requirement of approval by an ethics committee because it was an outbreak investigation supported by article 5.b. of Decree 203/2015, on 15 September [ 15 ], creating the Epidemiological Surveillance Network and regulating the reporting systems for notifiable diseases and epidemic outbreaks.

Description of cases and their close contacts and temporal distribution

We identified 515 primary cases of SARS-CoV-2 with epidemiological links related to the outbreak ( Table 3 ); 296 (57.5%) women and 219 (42.5%) men. We identified 2,280 close contacts: 1,181 (51.8%) women and 1,099 (48.2%) men. The close contacts: primary case ratio was 4:1. Of the close contacts, 245 (10.8%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2; 131 (53.5%) women and 114 (46.5%) men. The average age was 17.1 years in primary confirmed cases and 18.8 years in secondary cases. By types of exposure of the close contacts, there were 1,466 (64.3%) friends of primary confirmed cases and 699 (30.7%) were household contacts, of whom 211 (14.4%) and 33 (4.7%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2, respectively. The attack rate was 27.2 per 100 exposed persons, 28.9 in women and 25.3 in men. Regarding clinical course, none of the affected individuals died, required intensive care unit admission, or was hospitalized. Among primary cases, 402 (78.1%) had mild symptoms and 113 (21.9%) were asymptomatic. Among secondary cases, 140 (57.1%) had mild symptoms and 105 (42.9%) were asymptomatic. Whole genome sequencing and analysis was performed in 28 available samples; of these, 18 (64.3%) were identified as B.1.617.2 [ 16 ] and 4 (14.3%) as B.1.1.7. In the remaining samples [ 8 ], usual deletions in the B.1.1.7 variant were not found.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.t003

Regarding temporal distribution, the first case was diagnosed on 15 June ( Fig 3 ). Confirmed cases increased until 29 June when the outbreak reached its peak and then gradually declined. The last case was diagnosed on 10 July. The outbreak was over 28 days after the date of diagnosis of the last confirmed case [ 8 ]. The episode had a total duration of 45 days. The index case remained unknown due to substantial community transmission.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.g003

Among symptomatic cases, the average delay between symptom onset and diagnosis was 1.8 days for primary cases and 1.5 days for secondary cases. Among asymptomatic close contacts, the delay between the last date of contact and diagnosis was 3.0 days.

Activities possibly encouraging transmission

Trips were principally self-organised by young people (n = 256, 49.7%), but 8 travel agencies arranged a total of 96 (18.6%) trips to Menorca. Most cases rented a tourist apartment (n = 238, 46.2%) or had a private house (n = 57, 11.1%), 141 (27.4) attended parties in Ciutadella’s port and 31 (6.0%) organised or were involved in private parties ( Table 3 ). The parties were described by the attendees during the epidemiological surveys as “crowds of hundreds of people in private villas on different parts of the island, where people did not know each other, and where there was music and alcohol”. These private events were organised by the young people themselves through social networks through “a system of spokespersons and representatives in instant messaging network groups, such as WhatsApp”. The young people reported attending these parties between 12 and 20 June. Young people reported organising themselves through social networks to attend. Youth described the Sant Joan Festival in Ciutadella as a “large binge drinking gathering in the port of the city, followed by parties in the nightlife venues of the area”. Prevention measures for SARS-CoV-2 transmission were reported as not being followed.

Youth reported that they were aware of the various restrictions in Catalonia and Menorca. Interviewed youth stated that they themselves organised the trips through social networks to arrange the travel and accommodation to manage restrictions. One young person stated that “we knew that the maximum number of people who could gather was 10, so we rented adjacent tourist flats to comply with the restriction”.

Geographical distribution of cases

All the confirmed cases were diagnosed after the trip, in Catalonia. Most confirmed cases were concentrated in the city of Barcelona (n = 203, 26.7%). A clear gradient was observed in the city between the CSI of catchment areas and the number of confirmed cases: cases were concentrated in the areas with the highest CSI, particularly the district of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi ( Fig 4A and 4B ). Likewise, there were fewer cases in the areas with the lowest CSI. Within Catalonia, confirmed cases lived in Girona (n = 95, 12.5%), Sant Cugat del Vallès (n = 64, 8.4%), Sabadell (n = 49, 6.4%) and Vilassar de Mar (n = 32, 4.2%), where the CSI is also high ( Fig 4C and 4D ). A gradient was also observed between CSI and confirmed cases. Furthermore, an urban-nonurban pattern was found at the local level, as there were few confirmed cases in rural areas of Catalonia, except for the village of Guissona, where there was a large number of cases (n = 15, 2.0%). There was a significative positive spatial autocorrelation between CSI and confirmed cases (bivariate Moran’s I: 0.171; p value <0.005).

a. Composite socioeconomic index of Basic Health Areas of Barcelona City, in Septiles (1 = most disadvantaged; 7 = most advantaged); b. Number of confirmed cases of each Basic Health Area of Barcelona, 15th June– 10th July; c. Composite socioeconomic index of Basic Health Areas of Catalonia, in Septiles (1 = most disadvantaged; 7 = most advantaged); d. Number of confirmed cases of each Basic Health Area of Catalonia, 15th June– 10th July.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.g004

Cases related to this outbreak made up 9% of the confirmed cases aged 17–19 years in Catalonia between 15 June and 10 July. In the days surrounding the Sant Joan festival, the percentage of confirmed cases linked to the Menorca outbreak remains between 25–30% of the total number of confirmed cases in this age group ( Fig 5 ). In some clusters of Basic Health Areas this percentage exceeds 50% of the total confirmed cases aged 17–19 years. This is particularly relevant in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi and Les Corts, areas with high SCI.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.g005

This study describes an outbreak related to trips to Menorca by secondary school students in June, 2021. We identified 760 confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2. A large COVID-19 outbreak with a high attack rate is a public health challenge. Based on the characteristics of the delta variant [ 17 ] and its high COVID-19 incidence and dominance in the area, social activities probably played an important role in the transmission. We would like to highlight some elements:

1. Prevention and management of COVID-19 outbreaks in advantaged socioeconomic contexts

In Barcelona there are social inequalities in the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 [ 18 ]. Disadvantaged neighbourhoods have significantly higher incidences from the first to the fourth waves [ 19 , 20 ]. This outbreak did not follow the socioeconomic pattern previously identified in the city, as it affected mainly young people from advantaged socioeconomic backgrounds. New outbreaks could appear in economically advantaged settings. The lessons learned from this outbreak will be key to managing them: knowledge of age and social class are crucial to establish an approach strategy.

2. Risk perception

As the investigation of this outbreak noted, young people were not aware of COVID-19, and preventive measures were relaxed. In Europe, it has been observed that age also influences risk perception [ 21 ] and contribute to the relaxation of preventive measures [ 22 ]. The Balearic Islands is one of the main tourist destinations in Europe [ 23 ] where people from different countries enjoy their holidays. However, the motive for some of these trips is to drink alcohol and attend parties. Therefore, it is not easy to introduce regulations or limitations to avoid SARS-CoV-2 transmission in these places. In addition, some confirmed cases flew to their usual residence with infective capacity [ 24 ], and SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks have previously been reported in aeroplanes [ 25 ]. This outbreak raises the need to better understand COVID-19 risk perception.

3. The challenge of outbreaks arising from super dissemination events

Participation in mass events has previously been associated with an increased risk of COVID-19 infection: a relative risk of 2.5 was reported in Catalonia for attending mass music events in the same time period as this outbreak [ 26 ], and a prior study reported an odds ratio of 2.4–3.9 for going to bars and restaurants [ 27 ]. However, transmission could have been considerably reduced by correct use of masks, even in a pre-vaccination scenario such as this one [ 28 ]. The informal organisation of travel and parties and the lack attendance lists increased the difficulty of tracing contacts and identifying sources of infection, requiring extensive testing measures. Anticipating these outbreaks in mass events and preparing systems is one of the major lessons from this outbreak. We know that in summer there will be trips and festivals, and in winter there will be ski breaks.

4. This outbreak highlights the need to establish a clear line of leadership and rapid and effective coordination measures between institutions, authorities and stakeholders from different regions and services

We would like to highlight the role of interdisciplinary teams and networking allowed for a rapid control of the outbreak. This specific team processed and updated the outbreak data daily, provided indicators and drew up a daily update for public communication. Furthermore, sharing information and discuss, where the different exposures detected and the activities that favoured transmission were analysed to allow the implementation of rapid and effective measures. Explosive outbreaks related to tourism may occur, and a coordinated response is required among all the stakeholders involved where the outbreak occurs and the place of residence of the cases. Early detection of these outbreaks enables action to be taken in transmission settings. To our knowledge, there are few prior publications on strong coordination in response to a COVID-19 outbreak.

5. Impact of this outbreak

With the information we currently have, it would be extremely bold to claim the specific impact of this outbreak on the transmission dynamics of Covid-19 in Catalonia in the summer of 2021. In the first place, although this is possibly the largest outbreak of Covid-19 documented in Catalonia, it is not the only big outbreak in the summer of 2021. Other outbreaks that were reported then are now being analysed. Secondly, while many chains of transmission were successfully interrupted, it is likely that many others were not. Therefore, taking into account the subsequent evolution of Covid-19, data would suggest that this outbreak contributed to the explosiveness of the fifth wave of Covid-19 in Catalonia (between 13 June and 1 October).

Limitations

A limitation of the study was selection bias. We could not obtain a record of all the young people who had participated in the trip. Individuals were identified from epidemiological surveys and primary care. Another limitation is the number of young people who refused to provide data to the public health services about their close contacts and the activities undertaken during their trip. This could be related to the socioeconomic status of the related cases.

From our experience, we strongly recommend identifying, through stakeholder mapping [ 29 ], the stakeholders who will be able to contribute to the management of large outbreaks. Strengthening relationships could facilitate a quicker and more effective response in these situations. We recommend addressing preventive measures for youth to modify their risk perception, through specific communication campaigns [ 30 ].

This study is one of the first to address the problem of massive SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks in European tourist destinations. A total of 760 people were affected, aged 17–19 years, who had taken a trip to Menorca. Transmission may have been encouraged by the relaxation of preventive measures in the festive environment and during holidays. Rapid identification of cases and close contact tracing allowed interruption of transmission chains and rapid control of the outbreak. The establishment of a clear line of leadership and a strong coordination structure allowed continuous communication between institutions. Interdisciplinary teams facilitated a comprehensive approach to the outbreak and its investigation. Stakeholder relationships are key to managing complex COVID-19 outbreaks.

Supporting information

S1 dataset. confirmed cases of menorca’s outbreak..

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s001

S2 Dataset. Close contacts of confirmed cases of Menorca’s outbreak.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s002

S1 Appendix. Epidemiological survey.

Covid 19 case notification survey.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s003

S2 Appendix. Ad-hoc epidemiological survey of Menorca’s outbreak.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s004

S1 Table. Additional data from confirmed cases.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s005

S2 Table. Additional data from close contacts.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280614.s006

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the technicians of the Epidemiological Surveillance Services (SVE) of Catalonia for their support in the management, analysis and control of the outbreak; the Public Health Case Agents for the data collection from confirmed cases; the Public Health Close Contacts Agents the scheduling of tests to close contacts; to the primary healthcare services the support in the organization of the screenings; to the laboratories of the Microbiological Notification System of Catalonia (SNMC) the performance of the tests and their communication; and to the Epidemiological Surveillance Emergency Service (SUVEC) the support in the recontact of the cases; the Surveillance committee of Catalonia for their support in the epidemiological study. The authors thank Gail Craigie for critical reading and editing of this paper.

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Climate Change

Siberia burning again; state of emergency declared in irkutsk’s bratsk district, jewish oblast & khabarovsk krai.

Heatwave in 2020 caused ‘world’s coldest inhabited place’ to boil at 38°C; subsequent wildfires increased emissions and air pollution in the region

By Rajat Ghai

Published: tuesday 07 may 2024.

Authorities in the Irkutsk Oblast (administrative division) of Siberia in Russia declared a state of emergency on May 6, 2024, after a huge forest fire spread through the Bratsk district,  a report in the Russian daily Moscow Times , said.

Igor Kobzev, the governor of Irkutsk, declared a state of emergency across the Bratsk district, even as a woman was reported critically injured due to the fires, according to the Moscow Times . Local residents have been evacuated to municipal centre of Vikhorevka.

On May 6, Irkutsk was among the nine regions where wildfires had been raging over the past 24 hours, according to  a statement by the Russian Federal Forest Agency. On May 7, fires were raging in 6 regions of the country, as per the Agency :

• Jewish Autonomous Region/Oblast
• Khabarovsk Territory/Krai
• Amur Region/Oblast
• Irkutsk Region/Krai
• Republic of Buryatia/Ulas
• Trans-Baikal Territory/Krai

There is a state of emergency across the Jewish Autonomous Region and Khabarovsk Territory, the statement added.

• Boiling Siberia shows temperature swings may be increasing: Experts
• Hottest day in Arctic: WMO official warns of more extreme weather
• World’s coldest regions have been on fire in 2021, even in winter: Copernicus
• WMO confirms 2020 heat record in Siberian town
• Arctic forest fires caused by global warming can jeopardise climate goals: Study
• DTE Analysis: Siberia witnesses over 150% rise in air pollution

Russian authorities have, meanwhile, extinguished 65 forest fires on 7,261 hectares across 15 regions of the country on May 7:

• Rostov, Chelyabinsk, Irkutsk, Novosibirsk, Amur, Kherson (Russian-occupied Ukraine) regions
• Tyva, Khakassia, Buryatia republics
• Primorsky, Khabarovsk, Transbaikal, Krasnoyarsk and Altai territories
• Lugansk People's Republic (Russian-occupied Ukraine)

Russia’s wildfire season, began  in early March in eight regions. The Russian Hydrometeorological Centre recently forecast that most of Russia will likely experience prolonged periods of “high” and “extreme” wildfire danger this year, according to the Moscow Times .

This is not the first time that Siberia is witnessing devastating wildfires. Down To Earth reported on the heatwave in the vast region in 2019 and 2022, which were subsequently followed by wildfires.

On June 20, 2020, the town of Verkhoyansk in the Sakha Republic or Yakutia, usually known as the ‘coldest inhabited place in the world’, recorded a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius, probably the highest temperature ever recorded in the Arctic Circle region.

DTE reported in 2022 that around 4.7 million hectares (mha) of the Arctic was burned down due to forest fires in 2019 and 2020. This was equal to 44 per cent of the total burned area in the Siberian Arctic in the last 38 years.

In 2021, the European Union’s Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service stated that the world’s coldest regions, including Siberia and North America, had been on fire even during the winter months.

Finally, a DTE analysis last year found that Siberia had witnessed over 150 per cent rise in air pollution due to the massive wildfires of recent years.

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