The fabulous weather, the laidback lifestyle, and the healthy Mediterranean climate are just some of the reasons people flock to the Costa Blanca at this time of year.

But it's important to make sure you take good care of yourself and your family while you're here, and to understand that fun in the sun comes with its own set of challenges.

Here's our guide to staying healthy on your holiday in Spain, the most common health complaints, how to prevent them, and how to treat them.

Reducing the risk of sunburn

The hottest part of the day on the Costa Blanca occurs between 2.00 pm and 6.00 pm. For people with sensitive skin, just being in direct sunlight unprotected for 20 minutes is enough to cause serious sunburn – less for a baby or young child.

Always apply a high-factor sun cream and wear a sunhat and sunglasses with UV protection which cover a large percentage of the face.

Children should always use a factor 50 sun cream, regardless of their skin tone. If you're planning a dip in the inviting Mediterranean waters or a swimming pool, use a water-resistant sun cream and reapply regularly throughout the day.

Ensure that young children are as covered as possible when at the beach or water park. SPF and UV protective swimwear is widely available online, and you may want to consider specialised clothing for adults in your party.

If you do suffer from sunburn this summer take a cool shower to reduce the redness and burning sensation on the skin, gently pressing the skin dry with a towel.

Sleep uncovered overnight with a fan on to avoid agitating sore and inflamed skin, and try to avoid using air conditioning. Drink plenty of water and avoid dehydrating fluids such as caffeine-based drinks and alcohol.

Apply Aloe Vera Gel liberally to affected areas and keep the bottle in the fridge. The gel will effectively cool and rehydrate the skin and calm heat rash, reducing the risk of prickly heat.

You'll find the gel available at all pharmacies, and the Spanish supermarket Mercadona offers an excellent Aloe Vera Gel available in stores locally.

Stay indoors in a cool environment for 24 hours to help the skin recover and avoid body spray or deodorants. Once the sunburn is no longer sore, apply rehydrating body cream overnight to repair the damaged skin.

Avoiding heatstroke

Heatstroke is not only unpleasant but it can cause death in the very young or elderly in extreme cases.

Wear lightweight, pale-coloured clothes, and avoid fabrics containing a high percentage of polyester or Lycra, as these fabrics trap the heat close to your skin and stop the skin from breathing.

Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and eat fruits with a high water content such as watermelon.

Limit the amount of time spent directly in the sun and always wear a hat which protects both the top of the head and the back of the neck. Placing a wet towel around your neck will help to keep your body temperature low.

Carry a water spray bottle for your face to provide a mist that will cool you down.

Relax and take a siesta during the hottest part of the day and try to plan activities for during the morning or early evening.

If you are unlucky enough to suffer from heatstroke stay inside in a cool dark room and drink plenty of water. Take a cold shower to help reduce your body temperature.

If you feel nauseous or suffer from diarrhoea consider drinking flat cola. This helps replace lost salts and electrolytes. Basic analgesia such as paracetamol will relieve headache symptoms.

Young children suffering from severe heatstroke may become floppy and sleepy, and the elderly may become confused and disorientated. In these circumstances, seek medical assistance immediately at your closest medical centre, or call 112 for emergency attention.

Combatting the effects of hay fever

Hay fever is a common ailment in Spain, and you might find you suffer symptoms during your summer holiday even if you don't normally at home.

Seasonal weather combined with the heat of summer can cause moderate to high pollen levels. There are types of pollen on the Orihuela Costa that you might not be so accustomed to, such as the pollen produced by the local flora at many of the beautiful golf courses here.

You may experience symptoms similar to a common cold, including a runny nose, frequent sneezing, irritated eyes, or a sore throat.

Hay fever is likely to leave you feeling lethargic and interrupt your normal sleep pattern. In more severe cases, you may develop facial pain, loss of smell, headaches and a hot sweat.

If you suffer from hay fever during your holiday consider taking a daily morning dose of non-drowsy antihistamines, such as loratadine. If symptoms persist an additional evening dose might help, and you can purchase the medication from any local pharmacy.

If your accommodation offers air conditioning make sure to keep the windows closed when you are indoors.

If you continue to suffer from hay fever or your symptoms persist, use Clarityn eye drops or a nasal spray such as Beconase which contains a mild steroid to help reduce soreness.

Dealing with painful stings and bites

The bugs you're likely to encounter in Spain aren't that much different to those you'll be accustomed to at home. But there is a variety of insects that can bite and sting, including ants, mosquitoes, wasps and bees.

You will want to enjoy visits to the beach, the wonderful natural parks and al fresco dining while you're here in Spain. Fortunately, there are things you can do to prevent falling foul to insects.

Light a citronella candle to keep flying insects at bay whilst eating outdoors, and never walk around outside with bare feet.

Use an insect repellent, such as a cream or roll-on, or purchase wristbands containing citronella to repel biting insects. Spraying repellent around the windows in the bedrooms can help minimise mosquito bites overnight.

AccuWeather's handy forecast shows the current level of expected mosquito activity in the local area.

If you find ants inside your accommodation, use a crawling insect spray around the doors and windows to help prevent them from coming in.

Keep food covered – inside and outdoors. If you see wasps or bees near you try to stay calm and move away from them. Most insects only sting you if they feel threatened.

If someone in your party does get bitten or stung, remove any sting as soon as possible by scraping the skin with a fingernail or a credit card. Never attempt to squeeze a sting out of the skin as you may push the sting further into the tissue.

Clean the affected area with an antiseptic liquid or soap and water, and apply an ice pack to reduce swelling and pain.

Apply hydrocortisone cream or an Afterbite stick to the bite or sting, and take basic analgesia, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen to help reduce pain and inflammation.

Do not rub or scratch the area as this will increase histamine production and discomfort. Taking a regular antihistamine tablet will reduce the size of the bite and the desire to itch.

If you or a family member suffers a severe allergic reaction, such as anaphylactic shock resulting from a bite or sting, seek emergency medical attention from the local medical centre or call 112.

Preventing Athlete's Foot Infection

The warm weather in Spain means you're more likely to suffer from Athlete's Foot during your stay. To help prevent the infection putting a dampener on your holiday, wear shoes, flip-flops or sandals when walking around the pool area.

Keep your feet sweat-free by wearing footwear that allows air to circulate. Avoid shoes made from rubber or heavy synthetic materials.

Socks made from natural fabric such as cotton, or socks with a special absorbent layer are ideal, and can often be found in sports shops. Don't be tempted to wear socks again if they get or feel wet.

Wash your feet thoroughly every day with soap and take care to dry them fully, especially between your toes. Try to have more than one pair of footwear to use so you can allow shoes time to dry and air.

An antifungal shoe spray will help reduce the possibility of spores forming. Do not share towels, socks or footwear with anyone else, and change your towels every two days.

Symptoms to watch out for include itching and burning sensations on the soles of your feet and between your toes, or cracked, flaky and sore skin.

The application of an antifungal cream (available from all pharmacies) to the affected areas of the foot is the most effective way to treat an infection, paying special attention to the area between your toes.

Consider using a cooling and refreshing foot cream on your soles and ankles to help reduce swelling and tenderness.

Coping with travel sickness

Travel sickness can affect people of all ages and it's never a good start to any holiday.

Children aged between 2 and 12 years, pregnant women, and those who suffer from migraines are the most likely to be affected.

Travel sickness most often occurs because your eyes are unable to see what your body is feeling, which causes conflicting messages that confuse your brain and in turn make you feel sick, or cause sufferers to be physically sick.

To help prevent travel sickness only eat a small meal of plain food before you start your journey, avoiding fatty, greasy or heavy meals.

If you're travelling by aircraft, limit the amount you move around the cabin and pick a window seat when you book your flights that offers a clear view outside. Music can provide a helpful distraction, and don't read or spend all your time looking at your phone.

Peppermint or ginger flavours are known to reduce nausea, so always have some suitable sweets with you.

Antiemetic medications such as Stugeron or Joy-rides for children, are known to offer effective relief from travel sickness.

You can also use acupressure wristbands to help control and prevent travel sickness. They work by interrupting the messages sent from the brain to the stomach which causes the feeling of sickness.

Common holiday health problems in Orihuela Costa

This article has been produced for LaZenia.com by a fully qualified medical professional. However, the best advice is always to seek assistance from specialist practitioners or a local pharmacy here in Spain.

Pharmacists will be able to recommend suitable products based on your age and medical conditions.

If you need medication for someone in your party, inform the pharmacist of any pre-existing medical conditions or if any other medication is currently taken. This may affect the medication that the pharmacist recommends.

In the case of an emergency do not hesitate to call 112.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

But with exceptional health precautions returning to many countries, travellers of all nationalities will often find they might need testing or vaccination to enter Spain, and crucially, local COVID testing for their return journey home.

Fortunately, Antigen and PCR tests are widely available throughout the Orihuela Costa area, with a choice of test facilities in popular holiday hotspots such as Playa Flamenca, Cabo Roig, and other localities within easy reach of La Zenia.

Visitors to Costa Blanca can find out what health precautions are in place on the Spain Travel Safe website. The website explains the entry requirements for travel to Spain depending on your country of origin, with information about staying safe while you´re here, and what health measures are in place for your journey home.

Cheapest travel testing on the Costa Blanca in Spain

It's an invaluable tool for holidaymakers and arrivals in Spain, with the most up-to-date information collected directly from the Spanish authorities and official government sources globally.

Simply visit the website on your laptop or mobile device and tap the country you're travelling from. The website will tell you what documentation you'll need to travel, and whether you'll need a test. The site is available in nine popular languages, including English, Spanish, German, Italian, Polish, and Russian.

If you do need a COVID test for your journey home, here's a list of local PCR and Antigen test providers and test centres in our part of the South Costa Blanca area, with contact information, location maps from Google, and the current Antigen and PCR test costs.

ScandClinic Costa Blanca, Playa Flamenca

ScandClinic offer medical and test services for English, Spanish, and Swedish language speakers. Located locally in Playa Flamenca, the testing facility provides Antigen tests for €45 with a certificate for travel issued within 30-minutes.

A PCR test costs €135 and the availability of results depends on the current workload. Call them on +34 966 399 398 between 09.00 and 12.30 Monday to Friday to confirm availability or to make an appointment.

The local medical facility also offers private consultations with a doctor for €55 and appointments to see a nurse cost €25 per visit (reductions apply for patients enrolled in the Swedish health insurance fund). Private seasonal flu vaccinations are available for €35. Take a look at their website and find their clinic with this Google Map.

Dam Health, La Regia, Cabo Roig

Dam Healthcare provide a variety of testing services including lateral flow Antigen tests for €29 and PCR testing and fit-to-fly certification with prices from €79. Often open 7-days a week including public bank holidays, Dam Health testing centre in Cabo Roig is one of the most trusted and popular medical facilities serving the needs of returning travellers.

The company offer online booking with an appointment, a simple walk-in service with testing on-demand, or appointments by phone on +34 865 660 402. Antigen test results are available within an hour, and Dam Health offer PCR same-day results for PCR tests. You can find them with this Google Map.

Polyclinic IMED, Torrevieja

IMED offer a suite of test choices including RT-PCR and Antigen testing in Torrevieja. Prices for an Antigen test start at €40 with PCR tests available from €96. The company promises lateral flow test results within 15-minutes.

PCR test results are available within 24-hours, but for €150 IMED Torrevieja offer an express PCR testing service with results delivered within an hour. Appointments can be booked online and their website is available in English, German, Dutch, and Norwegian languages.  Call them on +34 966 817 406 or find their location with this map.

Hospital Quirón, Torrevieja

QuirónSalud offers lateral flow Antigen testing for €40 with results and a certificate issued in just 30-minutes.  RT-PCR tests are also offered. Tests cost €88 and results are delivered online within 24-hours.

The facility also offers post-vaccination testing that detects and confirms an immune antibody response for €40. Walk-in appointments may be available but advance online booking is recommended. Call +34 966 921 313 to make an appointment, check out their website, or find the QuirónSalud Torrevieja hospital via the map.

Vitalicum, Los Altos

Vitalicum offers PCR tests for €85 with results in 3 hours. Saliva-based rapid LFT Antigen test prices start from €40 complete with travel certification.

The company offers a website with online booking in English, German, French, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, and Norwegian. Please note that according to information from the company´s website, the testing centre is currently closed until 9th January 2022 for the winter season. You can find their location in Los Altos with this map.

Antigen and PCR tests for COVID travel on the Orihuela Costa

Local pharmacies and chemists also offer a broad spectrum of PCR and lateral flow Antigen travel testing services including Farmacia Lago Sol in La Florida, Farmacia Ainhoa in Villacosta, and Clinica Virgen del Pilar in Pilar de la Horadada.

Please remember that all travellers to Spain must complete the passenger locator form (known as the FCS form), before beginning their journey. You can find the forms you´ll need via the official Spain Travel Health website.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com

Cheaper lateral flow antigen tests can now be used for the legally mandated Day 2 test to satisfy UK Government rules for entry to the country. Previously, the more expensive RT-PCR diagnostic tests were the only accepted testing method for returning UK residents.

Crucially, the UK Government has abandoned the requirement for a pre-departure test before arriving in England, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, meaning that fully vaccinated people completing a return journey between the UK and Spain will require just a single inexpensive test.

The new rules for pre-departure testing enter into force from today, with the change to testing requirements following on Sunday:

• From 04:00 GMT on Friday 7th January 2022 fully vaccinated British travellers and under-18s will no longer need to take a pre-departure test two days before travelling to England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. On arrival, they will have to take a PCR test but won´t have to self-isolate while awaiting the result.
• And from 04:00 GMT on Sunday 9th January 2022 arrivals in the UK will only have to take a lateral flow test instead of a PCR test on day two. This test must be bought from a private testing centre, free NHS tests won´t be permitted.
• Unvaccinated passengers will need to continue to provide a pre-departure test before travelling to the UK, PCR tests on day two and day eight, and to self-isolate for 10-days upon arrival.

Fully vaccinated UK travellers benefit from cheaper travel testing

The Welsh Government has reluctantly agreed to introduce identical measures, although the authorities are still advising people not to travel overseas unless it is essential, despite the amended regulations.

The Northern Ireland Executive has also adopted the new health protocol aligning with the new rules in England, and the Scottish Government announced changes to its entry requirements just this morning.

The relaxation of testing requirements applies only to fully vaccinated people returning to the UK. Arrivals must have had a complete course of a recognised vaccine at least 14 days before entering the country.

“Fully vaccinated” means that inbound travellers must have completed a course of an approved vaccine at least 14 days before arriving in the UK.

Accepted vaccines are those produced by Oxford/AstraZeneca, Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna or Janssen (or formulations of the vaccines in the relevant countries such as AstraZeneca Covishield), and administered in the UK, in Spain, or any other country in the EU.

Passengers returning from Spain who are not fully vaccinated with an authorised vaccine must still take a local pre-departure test in Spain, a PCR test on Day 2 and Day 8, and complete 10 days of self-isolation (with the option of “Test to Release” for residents of England).

Completing the UK Passenger Location Form (PLF) remains mandatory

Under the new system, returning UK residents still need to complete the obligatory Passenger Locator Form (PLF) before travel.

Before travellers commence their return journey to the UK, passengers must book and pay for their Day 2 test and enter the unique purchase code or booking reference on their PLF before they fly.

The rapid antigen lateral flow antigen test must be administered within the first two days after arrival in the UK, but crucially, simpler digital verification of the results is now permitted, meaning it won't always be necessary to post or courier samples back to a laboratory.

British residents can still opt for more expensive PCR testing if they prefer, but free NHS tests cannot be used to facilitate international travel.

The UK Government has published a list of approved testing centres and private test providers authorised to provide LFT and antigen testing for return UK travel. We've compiled suggestions and recommendations from members of the La Zenia Community Facebook group, to bring you this list of the cheapest Day 2 test suppliers.

The cheapest Day 2 tests for return UK travel, available now

These tests are suitable for arrivals into the UK from Spain for travellers who have been fully vaccinated by the NHS, or vaccinated as part of an EU or global vaccination programme approved by the UK Government.

These are the cheapest day 2 tests recommended by our group members. Click each one to visit the test supplier's website for more information:

C19 Testing | £22.00
Self-administered Day 2 self-swab rapid antigen lateral flow test. Simple online process, DPD next day delivery, and verified results emailed within 12 hours. UK Government listed, immediate delivery of PLF booking reference number.

Chronomics | £18.99
Private self-administered Day 2 Healgen rapid antigen test. Priority postage included in the price, online registration and results within 30 minutes. UK Government listed, compatible with IBM Digital Health Pass and Verifly apps.

Expert Medicals | £15.00
Self-administered at-home Day 2 testing package. UK despatch in 1-5 working days, price includes Royal Mail Tracked-24 return of the completed sample. Please note: at the time of publication this supplier is not currently UK Government listed.

Lateral/Bio | £15.00
Unsupervised self-administered at-home Day 2 lateral flow test. Reference number for the UK Passenger Locator Form emailed within 24 hours. Digital photo upload with results by email. UK Government listed (registered as PeploBio).

Cheapest day 2 tests and private LFT test providers for flying back to the UK

Living Care | £19.99
Private self-administered at-home Day 2 lateral flow antigen test. Self-swab testing with digital photo upload of the result online. Test kits are dispatched by Royal Mail Special Delivery within 48 working hours of online ordering.

Nationwide Pathology | £14.99
One of the cheapest day 2 tests for fully vaccinated travellers, complete with instructions. Royal Mail First class post included in the price, kits despatched same working day. Test results via email and UK Government listed.

Randox | £21.50
Day 2 lateral flow self-administered at-home test. Randox CertiFly mobile app compatible testing. Price includes UK delivery, but only available with a purchase coupon code, and showing as “Coming Soon” on the Randox website at the date of publication.

Simply Test Me | £12.00
Day 2 lateral flow test with online result validation. Passenger Locator Form (PLF) reference number issued immediately upon checkout and via e-mail. Please note: at the time of publication this supplier is not currently UK Government listed.

Testing For All | £17.00
Self-administered at-home Day 2 lateral flow test. A photo of the completed test must be uploaded for verification. UK Government listed, certification typically issued within 5 business hours. Price includes tracked UK next-day delivery.

Where can I get a cheap day 2 lateral flow antigen test for return UK travel?

This article provides aggregated information only from public sources available on the internet. Recommendations were based on existing recommendations from members of the La Zenia Community Facebook Group. Details and prices have been reviewed and verified as correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.

Claims made about products in this article were taken from the websites of the testing providers. The performance of the tests or testing providers is solely the responsibility of the companies providing these products.

LaZenia.com does not recommend or advocate any particular test provider, nor are we affiliated with a testing centre. It´s important that you do your own research (for example, read reviews) about available providers, the tests they supply, and their terms and conditions before you commit to a purchase.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: Ryanair Group, Corporate Media Centre / LaZenia.com

The original broadcast appeared last Friday, and Valencian online news site, ES Diario, picked up the story earlier this week.

In the special report, Television Torrevieja sought to investigate why COVID-19 hasn't spread throughout the city with the devastating ease it has exhibited in surrounding municipalities. Just how has our nearest metropolitan neighbour remained so isolated from high incidences of Coronavirus?

Presenter and journalist Melania Sala stated “The Torrevieja case is a mystery. It is the most populated city in the Vega Baja and the 5th most populous city in the Valencian Community, but it is barely affected with only 90 cases of Coronavirus per 100,000 inhabitants.”

A mystery indeed, and just one week on, the latest official data from the Valencian Government shows the current crude cumulative incidence over the past 14-days in Torrevieja has reduced from 90.0 to 60.0 detected COVID-19 infections per 100,000 population.

For comparison, data from the Spanish Government's Ministry of Health shows that nationwide, Spain registered 498.2 cases per 100,000 population in the last two weeks.

Valencian Community, the lowest levels of COVID-19 infection in mainland Spain

The Valencian Community (including our province of Alicante, together with the provinces of Castellón and Valencia), has registered a total of 311.1 by the same metric.

That´s a significant increase from the 252.5 cases per 100,000 population registered one week ago, but Valencia remains the autonomous community with the lowest levels of detected COVID-19 infection within the entire Spanish mainland – only the Balearic and Canary Islands have fared better.

Locally, Orihuela registered 279.0 cases per 100,000 population over the past two weeks, so what's the secret behind the inexplicable mystery, and how has Torrevieja seemingly escaped the worst effects of the second wave?

Melania Sala spoke with José Cano, the Director of Public Health for Torrevieja and Orihuela. He explained, “The department of Orihuela has more professionals dedicated to the primary sector than Torrevieja, particularly with regards to the agriculture and livestock industries.”

“That has generated COVID-19 outbreaks of socio-labour origin, originating in people who for example, work in one area and then move to the Region of Murcia.”

“I don't want to think that the population of one community is less disciplined than that of another when it comes to complying with the rules. I imagine that we will all be complying with the rules set by the Department of Health,” he explained.

COVID-19 in Torrevieja, low infection levels remain unexplained

Melania Sala concluded, “There is no single explanation for the data, at least from an epidemiological point of view.”

Since the global COVID-19 pandemic began, Torrevieja has registered just 1,013 cases of positive infection. In the last 14-days, 50 cases have been detected via PCR testing and 45 people have died in the city.

Any loss of life is undoubtedly tragic, but with a population of more than 83,000 people, the statistics are relatively low compared with the averages reported by other cities in the Valencian Community.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com.

The exceptional legislative measures affect all areas of the Costa Blanca with immediate effect and are expected to remain in force until Wednesday 9th December.

The regional resolution comes amid recently growing rates of detected coronavirus infections, an increase in hospital admissions, and added pressure on intensive care units.

The restrictions were announced yesterday by the President of the Valencian Government, Ximo Puig, calling on the people of the Valencian Community to “rise to the challenge, and exercise extreme caution to help prevent recorded COVID-19 cases from continuing to increase.”

“We knew that this road was long and difficult and we are doing well, but now we must do even better. Let´s remember how we kept a safe distance in April: in a strict way. Today I ask that we return to those levels of caution”, said the President.

Whilst the Valencian Community maintains the lowest levels of detected coronavirus infections in the Spanish mainland with a 14-day crude cumulative incidence of 153.16 cases per 100,000 population, this figure has grown by almost 50% in 4 weeks.

The average number of estimated daily cases in the past 7-days stands at 880.84, almost double the 450.77 cases observed in the previous 7-day period throughout the Valencian Community.

The resolution published by the Valencian Government and authored by the Regional Minister for Public Health, Ana Barceló Chico, states that “almost a third of outbreaks occur in the social sphere, especially in meetings of family members and friends who are not living together.”

“Environments, where people speak loudly, sing, or do not use masks properly, are particularly affected, including activities such as eating or drinking where the continuous use of a mask is incompatible.”

The resolution confirms that the change in the age range of new coronavirus infections that occurred over the summer continues to hold.

COVID-19 safety measures aimed at restricting social activity at night

“The epidemic is mainly affecting young adults, with the most affected age group between 15 and 29 years old, with incidence rates of 215.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.”

“This rate is 34% higher than the 30 to 59 years old age group, and the difference increases to more than 50% when compared with those of 60-years and over.”

“To stop the high rate of infection within the Valencian Community, it is necessary to adopt measures aimed at restricting social activity at night and limiting social gatherings to six people” concludes the resolution.

Ana Barceló added, “The sole objective is to protect the health (6) of the entire population. We do not want to wait for a situation that leads us to act in a more burdensome way for citizens and the economy.”

The public safety measures including a nighttime curfew enter force today to supplement existing laws in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 throughout the Costa Blanca …

Nightly curfew in Costa Blanca, a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus

• A nightly curfew will apply to all roads and other public spaces between midnight and 06:00. Between these times, people must stay at home and cannot be in a public place without a lawful reason.
• The curfew will not apply to people going to, or returning from work, caring for dependents or vulnerable people, or in cases of emergency or for essential health reasons. Exemptions are provided for public service personnel.
• Social or family meetings are limited to a maximum number of 6 people, both in public and private spaces (including private homes), except in the case of those who reside together.
• Public gardens, parks, and other open-air spaces will close at 22:00 and reopen no earlier than 08:00.
• In bars, restaurants and other hospitality venues, eating and drinking is permitted only at the table, not at the bar. People may go to the bar only to place and collect their orders.
• Bars and restaurants must close at midnight and cannot permit new customers after 23:00.
• No more than 6 people may sit together at a table, either inside or outside any bar or restaurant. Customers are advised NOT to move bar or restaurant tables from their designated positions.
• The use of a face mask is mandatory at all times in bars and restaurants unless sat down to eat or drink. You must wear a mask to place your order, to use the public bathroom, and at any other time on the premises.
• The sale of alcohol in shops and other non-hospitality venues is prohibited between 22:00 and 08:00. This does not apply to bars, restaurants, or hotels.
• Drinking alcohol in public roads is prohibited 24-hours a day. This does not apply to bars or restaurants with a terrace incorporated into the street.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: LaZenia.com.

La Zenia, Cabo Roig, Villamartin and Playa Flamenca – whichever part of the area you choose to visit Orihuela Costa is statistically a very safe place to be.

But with requirements such as mandatory face masks and limits on social activity, understanding what the current rules are can be potentially daunting.

When is the use of a face mask mandatory in La Zenia?

Face masks must be worn at all times in public spaces. The law requires that all adults and children over 6 years old wear a mask on public roads or any other public outside space, on public transport (including private hire vehicles), or in any closed indoor space that is open to members of the public – whether or not the prescribed safe distance can be maintained.

There are exceptions to the law. You don´t need to wear a face mask in public in the following circumstances …

• On a beach or around a swimming pool, including community and residential pools.
• In open countryside, natural or open spaces located outside of populated areas.
• While taking part in strenuous physical or recreational sports activity.
• When sitting at a table in a bar, on a terrace, or in a restaurant to consume food or drink.
• If you have documented respiratory conditions which are aggravated by wearing a mask.

Unlike some other countries, Spanish law requires that you wear a face mask – not a face covering. The mask should cover the nose, the mouth, and the area of the face below the chin.

Masks can be of any type – fashion, homemade, cloth or fabric, professional-grade surgical masks, or N95-rated particulate-filtering medical respirators. However, masks with an exhalation valve usually used within the building and construction industry are prohibited.

Face masks are widely available for sale at pharmacies or local supermarkets such as Carrefour, Mercadona, and SuperValu.

COVID-19 in Orihuela Costa, new safety measures introduced

Just this past Thursday, the Valencian Government confirmed that social settings continue to be the most prevalent cause of Coronavirus infection, with 67% of all recorded outbreaks taking place in a social environment.

Additional measures were introduced by the Valencian Government to curb the spread of the virus through social channels on Tuesday 18th August. The new measures are reviewed every three weeks and applied in addition to existing precautions.

The Minister of Universal Health and Public Health, Ana Barceló, announced that the additional measures were to continue from Monday 28th September for an additional period of 21 days until Monday 19th October 2020.

• Smoking is prohibited in all public spaces unless smokers can maintain a safe distance of 2 metres from any other person. This prohibition includes other smokers or people who you might live with and applies to tobacco inhalation devices, including electronic cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vaping equipment.
• Public social gatherings are limited to 10 people. In a restaurant or on a terrace, groups of up to 10 people sitting at a table must be separated from other groups by 1.5 metres.
• It is recommended that private social gatherings are limited to 10 people and that socialising with people you don´t live with should be limited where possible.
• Discotheques, dance halls, karaoke bars and nightclubs are not permitted to open to members of the public.
• Bars, restaurants and other social venues must not admit new customers after midnight and must close completely by 01:00 every day.
• Masks are mandatory for use by all occupants of any vehicle unless the occupants live together at the same residential address.
• Amateur public performance of music is prohibited. Professional musicians and registered artists may continue to perform subject to additional restrictions depending on the size of the venue and the anticipated number of attendees.

COVID-19 in Orihuela Costa, the latest situation in our area

Locally, the University Hospital of Torrevieja recorded 12 patient admissions with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis this week, and just one patient admitted to the hospital´s intensive care unit with a confirmed Coronavirus infection.

The latest figures for the opening week of October represent a decline of almost half the number of patients with Coronavirus, with an average of 25 infected patients admitted each week during the last weeks of September.

Torrevieja hospital has 200 private rooms and serves a local population of about 160,000 residents across eleven municipalities: Torrevieja, Los Montesinos, Benijófar, Rojales, San Miguel de Salinas, Pilar de la Horadada, Guardamar, Orihuela, Formentera del Segura and Rojales.

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Photo credit: LaZenia.com

The data also illustrated the sheer efficiency of the award-winning University Hospital of Torrevieja, with patients waiting for general elective surgery being attended to in just 12 days on average.

The miraculous figures contrast sharply with Torrevieja Hospital's sister facility, the University Hospital of Vinalopó in Elche, where patients' average waiting times for general surgery were four times longer at 48 days.

Vinalopó's elective surgical performance still remains impressive compared with the average general surgery hospital waiting times, currently standing at 86 days throughout the Valencian Community.

In addition, with an average wait time of just 45 days across all elective surgical departments, Elche's Vinalopó Hospital sees patients more than twice as quickly as most Valencian hospitals, where the regional average waiting time is 99 days overall.

Torrevieja Hospital, a first class medical service for the community

Patients awaiting elective thoracic surgery at Torrevieja Hospital fare best, with an average waiting time of just 10 days, whilst those waiting for urological surgical treatments wait for the longest, with a waiting time of 47 days – far short of the 76-day autonomous community average.

A statement on Torrevieja Hospital's website reads “The average waiting time for non-urgent surgical procedures with scheduled surgery at the University Hospital of Torrevieja is 40 days, 59 days less than in the rest of the public hospitals of the Valencian Community”.

“Patients have waited for an average of two months less than if they had received a surgical procedure in any other public hospital in the region”.

The latest data was published by Spain's Ministry of Health, the Ministerio de Sanidad, and records the waiting times of surgical procedures for the month of March.

It illustrates the outstanding performance of the medical facility, already recognised as a centre of excellence and one of the best hospitals in the world.

A gold standard medical facility, a dedicated professional medical team

Just last year the independent global healthcare accreditation institute, Joint Commission International, presented Torrevieja Hospital with a gold award, their highest accolade.

Usually reserved for private hospitals, the award is internationally recognised as the mark of outstanding achievement in the field of medical care, and globally accepted as the single most prestigious award to be bestowed upon any medical practice – private or public.

The accreditation certifies the healthcare centre's revered status, as only 3 medical centres in Germany and just 1 in the United Kingdom meet the JCI's exhaustive requirements for excellence.

Torrevieja Hospital is staffed by a dedicated team of medical professionals and managed on behalf of the local community by Ribera Salud, a private health management company jointly owned by the Sabadell Spanish banking group and the Centene Corporation, a Missouri based American healthcare company that administers the US Government's national Medicare program.

Looking for holiday ideas and travel inspiration? Find out more about our favourite recommended things to do on the Orihuela Costa or join the La Zenia community Facebook group and find out what's going on in the local area.

Photo credit: El Hospital Universitario de Torrevieja / Ribera Salud / LaZenia