British tourists face being stranded in Tenerife after airline Jet2 said it would not fly any customers back to the UK who have stayed at a hotel on lockdown over coronavirus until tests can confirm they are free of the virus.

The holidaymakers have been told they can instead remain at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel for the whole of a two-week quarantine period and then Jet2 will allow them to fly home on one of its planes.

They are among 130 people out of more than 700 tourists at the hotel who are now allowed to depart the complex.

Officials have said none of the 700 have shown symptoms of the potentially deadly respiratory virus and the remaining guests could also be given permission to leave soon.

More than 160 British holidaymakers are among the hundreds of people who have been holed up in quarantine for three days there and told to stay in their rooms.


Sky News has confirmed UK tourists are among the 130 who can now depart because they arrived after 24 February - when by that time the four who tested positive for COVID-19 were taken to hospital.

It is not clear how many Britons were allowed to leave.

Image: Some people were pictured swimming and sunbathing at the H10 Costa Adeje Palace

Although guests were initially told to stay in their rooms while they were tested for COVID-19 - the disease caused by the new coronavirus - some have been pictured swimming in the hotel pool and laying on sunloungers.

Local authorities on the Spanish Canary Island have now said people without symptoms can move around the hotel, including to the pool and bar.

This has raised fears the virus will spread rapidly among the guests, with social media photos showing people not wearing face masks and sharing buffet meals.

A British man, who did not want to be named, said the hotel was unable to enforce quarantine measures and nobody felt safe.

Another said an aqua gym class was held on Thursday morning in the pool.

A spokesman for the regional government said: "All these tourists, clients, guests present no symptoms ... and a decision has been made that frees the hotel from the presence of 130 people.

"At the same time, there is the possibility that the remaining ones ... could be leaving the hotel as soon as a similar situation is verified."

:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

Downing Street has defended the response to the situation at the hotel.

A walk through the Tenerife hotel in lockdown

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "The Foreign Office has been in contact with more than 100 British nationals who are staying in the hotel.

"They are providing them with support, they are also in regular contact with local authorities and tour companies to share information.

"The quarantine is being managed by the Spanish authorities. We understand that those guests who have been assessed by medical staff and who are not showing symptoms are free to move around within the hotel."

Coronavirus: Guests pictured in pool at Tenerife hotel despite quarantine

Pressed on whether there would be an evacuation flight for Britons, the spokesman said: "We base all our decisions on medical and scientific advice and everything is kept under review."

Meanwhile, one of two new cases of COVID-19 in the UK is from Derbyshire and they became infected while in Tenerife.

How to contain a global pandemic

In other developments: