Coronavirus case confirmed in Mallorca

British citizen 'in good health' but must remain isolated

Fernando Simón of the Health Emergency Coordination Centre confirms the second case of coronavirus in Spain, February 9, 2020 (Spanish Ministry of Health)
Fernando Simón of the Health Emergency Coordination Centre confirms the second case of coronavirus in Spain, February 9, 2020 (Spanish Ministry of Health) / ACN

ACN | Barcelona

February 9, 2020 08:43 PM

The Spanish health ministry has confirmed that a British citizen who resides in Mallorca has been infected with the coronavirus. It is believed he contracted the illness at a ski resort in the French Alps in late January. 

"The patient is in good health with no symptoms but he must remain isolated," said Fernando Simón, director of the Health Emergency Coordination Center.

The man was admitted to the Son Espases University Hospital in Palma on Friday. Tests confirmed three other members of his family also admitted to hospital have not contracted the virus.

In the second case of coronavirus confirmed in Spain after a German tourist was diagnosed in La Gomera in the Canary Islands.

Meanwhile, the Catalan government on Friday moved to assure delegates travelling to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona that the health service was prepared to deal with a coronavirus case, and they would be stepping up hygiene protocols at this year’s trade fair. However, LG, Ericsson, Nvidia and Amazon have all pulled out of the event because of coronavirus concerns.

At the end of January Barcelona’s Chinese New Year plans were cancelled in a show of solidarity with China and the victims of the coronavirus crisis.