The acceptance of rapid Covid-19 antigen testing has been confirmed by Canary Islands, raising hopes for a full resumption of winter sun holidays.
Arrivals into both the Canaries and mainland Spain had been required to provide proof of a negative PCR test for the virus taken up to 72 hours prior to departure.
However, the islands’ local government has agreed to accept cheaper and quicker antigen tests as proof of negative Covid status from today (Thursday).
International holidaymakers will now be admitted with a negative result from either a rapid test or a PCR.
The rapid test is not only cheaper but quicker and more accessible than a PCR.
The new decree “will enable the use of antigen tests for the health control of international travellers upon arrival in the archipelago,” the local government said.
It added that the “pioneering system” promoted by the Canary Islands has proven to be reliable, with “very few” positive tests among 250,000 arrivals in the last five weeks.