SEA YA LATER Spanish beaches forced to close and turn away Brit tourists to maintain socia

BRIT sunseekers are being spurned from scores of Spanish beaches after they closed to maintain social distancing.

Fears of a second killer coronavirus wave have forced overcrowded coastal hotspots to shut, just as Britons jet to Spain for much-needed holidays.


Around 55 beaches in southern Spain’s Andalucian region were closed at some point yesterday according to Malaga-based paper Sur.


Thirty of those beaches temporarily shut on the Costa del Sol to maintain the 1.5metre distance.

They were also barred from popular Benalmadena, Malaga and Andalucia resorts.

The temporary closures came days after Spain reopened its borders to European tourists in a bid to kickstart its economy.

But a surge in coronavirus infections yesterday saw the country impose a second local lockdown in just two days.


Beaches had to close temporarily to sunseekers, just as Spain's economy is reopening after the coronavirus crisis
Beaches had to close temporarily to sunseekers, just as Spain's economy is reopening after the coronavirus crisis
Visitors enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Barcelona, Spain
Visitors enjoy the warm weather on the beach in Barcelona, SpainCredit: AFP
Cala Aiguablava Beach, near Girona, Costa Brava
Cala Aiguablava Beach, near Girona, Costa BravaCredit: Reuters
The northwestern Spanish region of Galicia imposed restrictions on about 70,000 people on Sunday, a day after Catalonia also introduced a local lockdown to curb the spread of the deadly bug.

People living in La Marina along Spain’s northern coast in the province of Lugo will not be able to leave the area from midnight on Sunday until Friday, officials announced.

Spain stunned holidaymakers after locking down the entire region of Segria after a spike in coronavirus cases.

The region, near Barcelona, is popular with UK tourists who will now be planning holidays.


But after a surge in killer bug cases in the area, as many as 400,000 people have gone back into a local self-isolation.

Signs were placed banning further access
Signs were placed banning further accessCredit: Reuters
Crowd also congregated on the beach of Las Redes in Cádiz, Spain
Crowd also congregated on the beach of Las Redes in Cádiz, SpainCredit: Getty Images - Getty
There have also been busy scenes in Barcelona, above
There have also been busy scenes in Barcelona, aboveCredit: AP:Associated Press
Residents in Segria, which includes the city of Lleida, will not be able to leave the area - but will not be confined to their homes as was the case in Spain's original strict lockdown in March.

Catalan regional president Quim Torra said: "We have decided to confine Segria due to data that confirm too significant a growth in the number of Covid-19 infections."

The orders come as beaches in Malaga have reduced the number of users to ensure social distancing.

Malaga was the province most affected, followed by Cadiz and then Huelva, said officials.

The Cadiz beaches sunseekers were turned away from included Zahora beach near the Cape of Trafalgar, which was shut just after 1.30pm, and several small coves in nearby Conil de la Frontera.

A patient is moved by medics after the region saw a rise of cases
A patient is moved by medics after the region saw a rise of casesCredit: Reuters
Medics prepare to transport sick people after coronavirus cases spiked
Medics prepare to transport sick people after coronavirus cases spikedCredit: Reuters
The region, near Barcelona, is popular with UK tourists who will now be planning holidays.
The region, near Barcelona, is popular with UK tourists who will now be planning holidays.
Town halls posted the closure information on mobile phone apps or council websites.

Officials in Chipiona, near the US naval base of Rota, posted ‘real time’ information showing two of its beaches had reached maximum or near-maximum capacity - Cruz del Mar and Tres Piedras.

The Tres Piedras closure around 3pm coincided with high tide when there was less space available on the sand.

Local reports said beautiful Bolonia beach close to Tarifa and the nearby kitesurfers’ paradise Valdequeros, hit by closures over the previous two weekends, escaped problems over the weekend.

However conditions are expected to worsen further into July, as more foreign tourists arrive - as Spaniards start their annual summer holidays.