Mallorca Identifies Coronavirus Infection In Expat Resident

Expats on Mallorca urged not to panic as the Spanish island archipelago’s first coronavirus victim is identified.

At a press conference held yesterday, the Spanish island’s general director of public health urged expats and citizens to remain calm as staff are currently identifying and contacting passengers on the same Barcelona/Palma flight as the infected patient. The official promised a full investigation will take place, with all those identified being given precise instructions on how to proceed.

Along with his wife and two children, the infected British expat is now in isolation, with blood samples showing he is at present the only one with the disease. According to virologists at Son Espases Hospital, expats and residents should not be concerned as the infected man’s immune system is reacting well and the infection is mild. Given that Spain is a popular destination for expat retirees and the virus can be deadly for the elderly, the government is taking extra care to ensure all those suspected of carrying the infection are quarantined.

Officials are continuing to emphasise those who’ve recently travelled to or from China in the past two weeks or been in contact with a person known or believed to be infected should immediately contact Mallorca’s emergency services for further instructions. As regards the rest of Spain, the first case was diagnosed at the beginning of this month in a resident on the Canary Islands’ remote outpost of La Gomera. Five more residents were taken into quarantine as they were known to have been in contact with the German victim.