Thousands of Irish holidaymakers will be heading off on their summer trips in the coming days.
However, their break away could be ruined after several European countries issued weather warnings as temperatures skyrocketed to above 40 degrees in some places.
Tourists have also been urged to remain vigilant of Covid as cases continue to rise across the continent.
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A positive test whilst away could see holiday-goers having to fork out huge amounts to extend their stay to complete the required isolation period in the country they are in.
Below are the warnings in place in Spain, Portugal, Italy and France and how they could impact your holiday.
Spain
Irish holidaymakers heading to Spain have been bombarded with warnings and advice over the last few days as temperatures soar.
The Copernicus Emergency Management Service has said wildfires are likely to be the most severe in the Andalucia and Extremadura regions as red alert weather warnings come into effect.
Spanish weather agency AEMET also issued a red warning in the cities of Seville and Badajoz for today, July 13, as temperatures hit 44C in some areas.
An orange warning is also in place for parts of central and southern Spain, where highs of 41C are expected.
Spain’s health ministry has issued a caution to tourists and locals about the ‘intense heat’ that could affect people’s ‘vital functions’ and risk heat stroke.
It advised people to drink water frequently - but not ice-cold water - wear light clothing, and stay in the shade or air-conditioned places for ‘as long as possible.’
Nighttime in Spain is also particularly warm, with temperatures remaining around 25C through the night.
Covid requirements
If you test positive for Covid while on holiday in Spain , you may be required to isolate in line with local health requirements.
However, not all regions of Spain have dedicated quarantine hotels or facilities for those who test positive for Covid, and you may need to contact your accommodation provider to arrange to extend your stay .
Costs incurred from extending your stay in Spain are at the traveller’s own expense. As such, you are strongly advised to ensure that your insurance policy provides adequate cover.
If you are a close contact of someone who tests positive for Covid, you must follow the guidelines of the local health authorities.
Portugal
Tourists in Portugal have been warned to be careful due to increasing temperatures that can cause wildfires to spark and spread across the Iberic country.
At present, thermometers across several spots in Portugal show soaring temperatures over 40 degrees.
According to the authorities, non-compliance with restrictions could lead to prosecution of tourists.
“Mainland Portugal is in a state of contingency until midnight on July 15 due to exceptionally high temperatures and a heightened risk of forest fires,” the warning from the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office reads.
The current measures in Portugal include a ban on walking through or remaining in woodland areas, such as forest, woodland, and rural trails, in addition to burning gardens or other agricultural remains and clearing agricultural land by burning.
Using garden and farm machinery in the woodland areas and nearby is also forbidden, as well as lighting fireworks.
Covid requirements
If you test positive while in Portugal , you must self-isolate. On mainland Portugal, isolation is obligatory for at least seven days at the traveller’s own expense.
In Madeira, Porto Santo or the Azores, you must self-isolate at your own expense for at least five days.
If you require medical advice while in isolation, you can contact the healthcare helplines.
Italy
Italy has issued an Orange High Temperature Warning for some regions such as Milan.
The warning is in place until July 15 as severe weather is expected.
A Yellow High Temperature Warning will then remain until July 16.
Moderate intensity weather phenomena is expected with highs of 38 degrees.
Covid requirements
If you have symptoms or think you may have contracted Covid, the Italian health ministry advises visitors to self-isolate where you are staying and contact a doctor.
They will assist travellers in arranging an emergency test. Visitors should not go to a pharmacy or medical centre.
If you test positive and are fully vaccinated and boosted or have recovered from Covid in the last 120 days, you must self-isolate for a minimum of seven days.
If not, the isolation period is extended to 10 days. In both cases, you must have no symptoms (apart from loss of taste or smell) for three days before being able to leave self-isolation.
You are also required to test negative for Covid PCR or rapid antigen test on the final day of isolation to be released.
If you continue to test positive, you can leave quarantine after 21 days.
France
There are now 11 departments under an orange heatwave alert as temperatures approach 40 degrees in some areas of southwest France.
Gard, Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence and Pyrénées-Orientales have now joined Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, Tarn-et-Garonne, Haute-Garonne, Tarn, Ardèche and Drôme on the second-highest alert level.
Some 30 departments surrounding the areas on orange alert are also under yellow warnings.
Temperatures have risen to 39-40C in the southwest and the Rhône valley and 33-35C in central France.
The weather was set to cool slightly in more northern regions, with temperatures of 23-29C in the north and northwest and 31-33C in Ile-de-France.
However, this will not last long as a temperature peak is expected on Sunday.
Covid requirements
If you test positive for Covid in France , self-isolation rules will differ depending on your vaccination status and if you have had the virus before.
If you’re fully vaccinated or you’ve had Covid in the last four months, you need to self-isolate for seven days from the first day of symptoms or seven days from the date of the positive test result.
If you get a negative PCR or antigen test result (supervised, not self-administered) on day five and you have not displayed any symptoms in the previous 48 hours, you can end your quarantine.
These isolation rules also apply to children under the age of 12, regardless of their vaccination status.
If you are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated, or have not contracted Covid in the past four months, you must self-isolate for ten days. This can be reduced to seven by receiving a negative PCR or antigen test result. You must also show no symptoms for 48 hours.
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