Undeterred by Coronavirus Pandemic, Migrants Head to Spain’s Canary Islands

By sea, the shortest route to the Canary Islands is more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the Moroccan coast, but many come from as far away as Mauritania, Senegal or Gambia which lie well over 1,000 kilometers to the south.

Complex situation

With absorption centers overflowing, the regional government — which is responsible for unaccompanied minors — has set up nine emergency shelters to house the youngsters.

And the adults, who are the responsibility of the central government, have been housed in hotels emptied by the coronavirus pandemic or in tents at Arguineguin port where they are brought to safety by Salvamento Maritimo, Spain's coastguard.

Although the virus has not deterred migrants bent on reaching Europe, it has certainly complicated the situation when they arrived.

All arrivals to Canary Islands must undergo a PCR test for the virus and anyone infectious must be isolated, while everyone else must spend 14 days in quarantine.

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"The situation is quite complicated," admits Red Cross official Jose Antonio Rodríguez Veron.

"We cannot mix people from different boats. One could arrive with positive people on board and another without and if we put them all together, we'll have a problem."

So far, nearly 500 migrants have stayed at the camp for several days while undergoing testing.

Quarantine hotels

Salvamento Maritimo's orange vessel has been bringing in a constant stream of migrants rescued off Gran Canaria, with locals counting three or four boats a day.

Next to the camp lies a heap of colorful makeshift vessels, some containing blankets or items of clothing left behind by those who were on board.

When they land, the migrants are given masks by Red Cross staff in full protective gear then taken to different tents to have their temperature taken and a PCR test.

Due to quarantine rules stemming from the coronavirus pandemic, no-one is allowed inside the tent camp nor the hotels.