Brit Expats In Spain Refusing To Obey Anti Virus Rulings

Favourite expat locations in Spain are the worst for the numbers breaking State of Alarm rulings.

According to spokespersons from a number of Spanish municipal authorities as well as local police forces, it seems many expat residents are following lockdown rulings made by Germany and the UK as seen on UK and German TV channels, rather than those deemed necessary in their adopted country of residence. Frequently seen breaches of the rules causing police to question expats are the non-observance of distancing and the isolation requirement.

One reason for the lack of attention to rulings essential to defeat the pandemic is that many expats are elderly retirees unable to speak Spanish who’re getting their information from British TV news programmes. Poor translations of official notices as well as fake news articles are now found on social media pages as well as websites aimed at expats, and a small section of the expat community is seemingly refusing to listen when told of necessary measures in placed to combat the virus.

According to local police, the main infractions being ignored are taking walks as a couple, walking dogs and frequent shopping trips. Those caught are generally very surprised when police sanction them for the above or other examples of rule-breaking. Four expats accompanied by one family dog were having a conversation close by a local park and were amazed when told they weren’t allowed to interact with their neighbours. Another British man swimming in a community pool was arrested after he attacked and verbally abused local police for telling him to get out and go home.