It seems as if the authorities have managed to get the coronavirus outbreak under control in Malaga; as a matter of fact, the situation throughout southern Spain is now stable. In all likelihood, both the nationwide state of emergency and the restrictions imposed by the local government (Junta de Andalucia) helped to get the dreaded second wave of COVID-19 under control.
During the first wave, Spain was under a state of lockdown from mid-March to late June. During that period, the number of COVID-19 infections throughout Andalusia was fairly well-controlled. However, when July came around, Andalusia started to welcome tourists again, and within a month, we started to witness a large increase in terms of infections. This led many countries to impose a quarantine on travelers coming from Spain. At the end of August, 1,046 coronavirus infections were registered in Andalusia, of which 326 were in the province of Malaga.
In September, the number of infected increased substantially. By the end of the month, 547 new cases were registered in Malaga. Having said that, although the number of infections was clearly on the rise, there was no real pressure on the hospitals per se, thus providing a feeling of relative normalcy. During the following month, in October, the number began to rise steadily leading to the introduction of new governmental restrictions. Just before said restrictions could show some positive results, the amount of new infections hit its highest point with 678 new cases in one single day (7th November). From that point on, the number has been dropping steadily to reach only 202 infections yesterday.
In the entire region of Andalusia itself, the picture is pretty similar to that of the province of Malaga. In early September, 1,500 coronavirus cases were registered. By late October - early November, the number culminated to 5,000 infections. From the moment government restrictions came into effect, the number of COVID-19 cases in the region dropped to 309 on 3rd December.
Yes. You can travel to Malaga on holiday without any problem. It may cost you a little extra as PCR tests are currently required to enter the country. Indeed, to travel to Spain, you must present a negative test taken a maximum of 72 hours prior to that. Note that said documentation should be presented in English. This new requirement applies to all travelers including children. Before arrival, you must also fill in a few documents, which you can find here. When going back to the UK, you must currently self-isolate for 14 days or pay for a test 5 days after arrival. If the test is negative, you are no longer required to go into self-isolation.
At the time of writing, there is a partial perimetral closure of Andalusia and a curfew between 22:00 and 07:00. You cannot leave your city of residence without a permit. All shops and restaurants must close at 18:00; only supermarkets, doctors’ offices, pharmacies are open until 22:00. These restrictions are expected to be lifted on 10th December.
