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Despite the relatively low number of infections on the Spanish island, holidays in Mallorca are not completely risk-free: two visitors from Germany had already tested positive for the corona virus before the general test obligation for all flights to Germany came into force on Tuesday - and are therefore not allowed to visit the Beach back home.
The two were quarantined on Monday in one of the specially set up hotels in Palma, a spokeswoman for the regional health authorities said on request.
The test obligation started largely smoothly on Mallorca.
According to official information, at least 25 flights to Germany were on the program.
In front of the new airport test center, which is quite inconspicuous in the departure area and has been in operation since last week, there was still only a small queue in the morning.
In front of the Corona test center at the airport in Palma
Source: REUTERS
40,000 Germans are expected in Mallorca by Easter Monday
Source: REUTERS
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There were a maximum of ten returnees there.
Since the website of the provider Eurofins Megalab had collapsed in view of the large crowd in the days before, chaos was feared on the first day at the airport.
Return flight: A young man has to work the next day
But things went quickly.
Among other things, probably because some holidaymakers had themselves tested in private clinics before the day of departure.
“Everything went smoothly with the appointment,” says a young couple.
The amateur athletes spent a week running and cycling on the island.
The flight goes in the evening, by then the negative result must be available.
"I have to work tomorrow.
Quarantine would not be so good, ”admitted the young man.
Quarantine is not allowed on the beach like here in Cala d'Or
Source: REUTERS
Palma: The beaches are not particularly full yet
Source: REUTERS
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Some were more stressed.
An elderly gentleman, hectic in a pink shirt, said, slightly annoyed: "Now you have printed out the test result for me in Spanish and the airline does not accept it." Have it tested the day before departure.
"But we did not manage to get the result on the cell phone." It was "probably slight teething problems".
“We have never had such a wonderful Mallorca vacation before.
We are more afraid of infection now that we are going back to Germany. "
Germany lifted the travel warning for the Germans' favorite island in mid-March after the number of new infections there had fallen below 50 per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.
Since then, Mallorca vacationers have been exempt from quarantine and until Tuesday from the obligation to test.
That had triggered a booking boom before the Easter break.
Against the background of the tense Corona situation in Germany, Berlin introduced the new mandatory test that incoming flight passengers must undergo before departure.
The only exceptions are crews and children up to five years of age.
Despite warnings from the federal government, thousands of holidaymakers flew to Mallorca in the past few days.
According to industry estimates, around 40,000 visitors from Germany will visit “Malle” by Easter Monday.
At the weekend alone, 129 planes from Germany landed in Palma.
The current does not stop: According to the Spanish airport operator Aena, 27 more flights from Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Berlin, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf, Leipzig, Hanover and Cologne / Bonn were expected on Tuesday.
The incidence is 37
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The Balearic Islands recently had just under 37 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants within seven days.
This value is 135 in Germany. Unlike in Germany, the restaurants on Mallorca are allowed to receive guests outside until 5 p.m.
And the sun shines almost continuously on the Balearic Islands.
A man from Frankfurt was still not satisfied even after a quick test.
“I actually turn off my smartphone when I'm on vacation to relax.
That was not possible this time.
Neither the tour operator nor the airline let me know.
I spent two days looking for where to get tested. "
Two pensioners from Dortmund, who relaxed down the hall while waiting for the test results, are more relaxed.
"We would have done the corona test for ourselves at home even if we weren't obliged to." A positive result would not be the end of the world for her.
On the contrary: "Maybe it would be even nicer to stay here a little longer."
It is unknown whether the two Germans who involuntarily have to extend their stay on the island together with a family of four from Croatia and five Spaniards in the "Corona Hotel" on the Playa in Palma also see it that way.
Who pays for the time in the quarantine hotel?
Who actually pays for the additional nights?
Accommodation costs cannot be billed on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), says Florian Lanz, spokesman for the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Funds.
They could also not be asserted through the reimbursement of costs with the responsible German health insurance company.
With a view to Mallorca, the following applies: A hotel in which the quarantine usually takes place after a positive test before departure is not a service provider of the Spanish public health system.
That means: travelers have to pay the cost of the overnight stay themselves.
Unless otherwise covered by the tour operator or the hotel.
The German Travel Association (DRV) explains: If the test is positive, the respective infection protection regulations of the travel country apply.
And travelers usually bear the costs themselves.
For many vacationers, the question does not arise, quoted the "Mallorca-Zeitung" Tui spokesman Aage Dünhaupt.
The costs of their accommodation during a quarantine would be covered by additional insurance that is part of the travel package.
Other tour operators would also offer similar safeguards.
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Important: There is a difference between accommodation costs and treatment costs during quarantine.
If insured persons need treatment during this period, this will be paid for under certain conditions, such as that the doctor belongs to the public health system.
International travel health insurance does not pay either
Anyone who is on vacation in an EU country can use the EHIC to recover the costs of medically necessary treatments after an unexpected illness.
Which services fall under this is regulated by the law of the respective country of travel - and in some cases this is significantly less than in Germany.
Vacationers are then left with parts of their costs.
Consumer advocates therefore recommend taking out travel health insurance for every trip abroad, the benefits of which go beyond those of the statutory health insurance.
However, the insurance does not apply if a travel warning has already been issued.
And here, too, the following applies again: Treatment costs are covered - the costs of quarantine accommodation in a hotel are not insured.