After testing positive for Covid-19, three British tourists claimed they had to be forced from their hotel. They were then left roaming the streets for several hours.
Alex Williams (from north Wales) flew to Spain with his brother and good friend on the 20th of December for a Christmas vacation.
The trio had to take Covid tests in order to fly back, and two of them were positive. This included Mr Williams, his friend, and the other. Another test was taken by the pair, and they got the same result.
But Mr Williams says after the test, there was ‘no information about what to do next’ beyond advice that they should return to their hotel – Hotel Lancelot in Arrecife.
Alex Williams is a north Wales resident who flew to Spain with his brother-in-law and friend on December 20th for Christmas. However, when they took Covid test to get home, Mr Williams, his brother and friend all tested positive.
“We were told to return to the hotel, and they would inform the hotel that we’d tested positive,” Mr Williams, 25, told Manchester Evening News (MEN).
We were not supposed to return home until December 30, so we were still in our rooms.
“We called the helpline to find out what to do since we had to make a check-out and didn’t know where to start. We were connected to AXA’s support service for tourists in Canary Islands with Covid. They said they would help us find accommodations, but could not promise any.
“But when we went to check out we didn’t have anywhere to go. My brother wanted to know if the hotel could accommodate us. However, the staff told him that they had to move, as the hotel was too nice.
“But, I doubt that is true. The hotel was only half full.” Once they learned that we had Covid they wanted to get us out.
“We felt as if we were being kicked off the streets. The feeling was that something had gone wrong or we had broken some type of law. The truth was that there wasn’t any information.
Mr Williams was debunked by the hotel, who stated that it had been fully booked.
Mr Williams says after the test, there was ‘no information about what to do next’ beyond advice that they should return to their hotel – Hotel Lancelot in Arrecife (pictured)
Hotel Lancelot spokesperson said that they were sorry for the spread of contagion, but did not lie. The hotel is already full because it is Christmas.
“We currently assist three families with isolated Covid. We do our best to help them. This argument is false.
The spokespersons stated that they weren’t responsible for booking and managing alternate arrangements.
Williams stated that Williams was trying to get information and reassurance from other helplines to find out what he needed.
He said, “It took three hours for us to find any information. We also had to use the bathroom and get some food in that time.
I called the British Embassy, one of which was online. They said that the mailbox was full. A different person told me to go to their terms and conditions.
“We were in serious trouble, New Year’s Eve was approaching and we could not be late at night without our bags. It was unsafe.
My girlfriend and my parents called me concerned. I was unable to tell them the truth because I did not know what was happening. It was not that we were unhappy in our own selves, but the uncertainty about what would happen next.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) said travel advice for Spain is available online which sets out the measures in place if someone tests positive for COVID-19 whilst in Spain.
Williams claims he was picked up with his companion by an ambulance. However, Williams said that the paramedic became angry at the group and asked him to quit filming from his smartphone.
They may have to visit a quarantine hospital. British nationals are advised to follow all local instructions.
A spokesperson for FCDO said to the MEN, “Consular staff is available 24/7/365 to help those who ask.”
Williams claimed that alternate accommodation was made possible for them and that an ambulance later took them to safety.
He explained that they would eventually be picked up by ambulances back at their hotel.
The ambulance was going to bring us both to the hospital, but neither of us were experiencing symptoms. We did not know.
‘When we were picked up by the ambulance I grabbed my camera. As I was doing a film-degree, I wanted the camera to be there. But the paramedic began shouting at us and didn’t stop until I took the camera out.
“The paramedic became so mad that he threatened to call the police.
“We were taken to an apartment which was really lovely, and we’ve been there ever since. AXA informed us that it is free and they would pay the return flight. This was a great relief.
“But, if this were going to happen to me, I would not have booked to go away.”
A spokesperson from AXA stated that they could not comment on the matter until it is fully investigated.