'Holiday from hell' as Scots tourists among 1000 stuck at Tenerife hotel on Coronavirus lockdown

Guests at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace in the south-west of the island have been sent a letter saying the hotel is “closed down” and they must remain in their rooms until further notice.

Travel firms Tui and Jet2holidays are among those who use the hotel for package holidays, with Tui having around 200 guests there from different countries, including a small number from the UK.

The Italian doctor, who had travelled with his wife, tested positive on Monday and has been placed in isolation in hospital, local media reported, while the El Pais newspaper said about 1,000 guests were affected by the lockdown.

Coronavirus

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And now those inside fear they may be stuck there for up to two weeks. 

A Scottish tourist, who asked to remain anonymous, told the Daily Record: "We were told not to leave our room but I went down to reception to ask what was going on.

"There are very few staff going about, everything is cordoned off.

"Everyone is a bit confused about what's going on. We think we're going to be here a long time.

"It feels a bit weird and surreal. Police are at the exits to the hotel so no one can get out.

"The police said it could be 10 to 14 days before we are allowed out.

"We are supposed to be flying back today but it looks like we won't be getting that flight."

A Foreign Office spokesman said its staff was offering advice and support to a number of British people at the hotel and their families.

Hannah Green, 27, from Hertfordshire, arrived at the hotel on Saturday with her boyfriend, Court Amys, and their one-year-old son. They are supposed to be staying until Sunday.

She said a sandstorm at the weekend had also confined them to their rooms.

“The sandstorm was the day after we arrived, Sunday, so we had to stay in the hotel then,” she said. “Holiday from hell, honestly.”

A sandstorm in Tenerife (Sophie Barley/PA)

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The H10 Costa Adeje Palace is a seafront hotel with nearly 500 rooms, four pools and a gym.

A spokeswoman for Tui UK said: “We can confirm that Tui has around 200 customers in the resort from different countries. Tui representatives on Tenerife are present on site and will liaise with our customers.

“All guests have been asked to remain in their rooms and are being looked after by the hotel.

“Our holiday programme to Tenerife continues to operate as planned for all other hotels.”

(PA Graphics)

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A spokesman for Jet2 said: “We are aware of reports that a non-Jet2holidays customer staying at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife has tested positive for coronavirus.

“Under the advice of the regional and the Spanish government authorities, the hotel has been placed under quarantine.”

A statement from the hotel said it has “implemented all health and operational recommendations from the health authorities to ensure the safety and wellbeing of customers and employees”.

“Additionally, we are providing customers and hotel staff all the necessary care and attention so that, despite the inconveniences this situation may cause, they are taken care of in the best way possible.”

Police outside the H10 Costa Adeje Palace (AP)

It comes as travellers returning to the UK from northern Italy were told they may need to self-isolate as part of measures to stop the spread of the Covid-19 disease caused by coronavirus.

Symptoms of Covid-19 include a cough, fever and shortness of breath.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said official advice has been changed to say that those who have been to anywhere in Italy north of Pisa should self-isolate if they develop flu-like symptoms on their return to the UK.

Britons who have been in locked down regions of Italy – including Lombardy and Veneto – should self-isolate at home for 14 days even if they have no symptoms.

The advice comes as the Department of Health added Iran, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma and parts of northern Italy to the list of places where travellers need to follow clinical advice.

In Italy, 229 people have tested positive for coronavirus and seven have died.

Schools have been closed in affected areas, theatre performances cancelled, and Venice Carnival celebrations were called off, while producers said filming on the latest Mission: Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise has been halted.

Mr Hancock told the BBC the Government was not aware of any Britons who were in the quarantined areas of northern Italy, but urged anyone there to make contact with the embassy in Rome.

(PA Graphics)

He added that the UK has done a “huge amount” of work preparing in case coronavirus becomes a pandemic, including setting up testing facilities outside A&Es and preparing home testing kits.

The government also confirmed the Heathrow Ariel Hotel had been designated an isolation facility for a potential quarantine alongside Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral and Kents Hill Park in Milton Keynes, which have both been used to accommodate British nationals returning from China and Japan.

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government has updated its advice for travellers returning from certain countries amid fears over the spread of Coronavirus.

They say anyone who has returned from Iran, specific areas in Northern Italy and South Korea and the Hubei Province in China since February 19 is to stay indoors and avoid contact with other people - even if they are not showing symptoms.