It has been four years since Tenerife made headlines in national and international media, following the infection of a hotel guest at H10 Costa Adeje Palace with the “Chinese virus,” the original term for COVID-19. This case marked the first contagion in Tenerife and the second in Spain, following the positive test of a German tourist in La Gomera three weeks earlier.
On the night of February 23, 2020, the hotel, which had 893 guests and fifteen employees at the time, was placed under lockdown. This measure was implemented even before the World Health Organization declared the epidemic a pandemic.
A significant police presence guarded the hotel, and journalists from around the world flocked to southern Tenerife. Inside the establishment, a “constant battle began, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day,” as described by a bar staff member, highlighting “the strides we made to overcome that ordeal.” Another kitchen worker noted that at that time, “no one knew how the virus spread or how infections occurred.”
The employees, along with healthcare personnel, played a pivotal role and their professionalism not only helped maintain calm during the initial critical moments but also garnered the support of the guests, who offered words of encouragement in the hallways, dining room, and around the complex’s pools. This gratitude was also expressed through notes and even children’s drawings displayed on the walls.
A total of seven people were affected by COVID-19 at the hotel (six Italian citizens and one British), showcasing the success of the strategy employed during the two-week isolation period to contain the infections. The health team, consisting of 13 doctors, 42 nurses, and 10 logistics management technicians, played a vital role in this achievement.
The professionals from the Canary Islands Health Service and the Canary Islands Emergency Service, who led the health operation, emphasised coordination, collaboration, interdisciplinary work, and mobilisation capacity as crucial factors in responding to this unprecedented event.
They all lauded the success of the operation and the progress made in addressing the emergency, establishing action plans and protocols in anticipation of the impending pandemic that would arrive in the following days.
The first group of foreign tourists began departing on the 28th, with over 50 flights. After the quarantine ended on March 10, the final group of 274 guests at the hotel finally saw the doors open.
The employees have lasting memories of the last day. As soon as the quarantine was lifted, many guests celebrated at the bar by tossing their masks in the air before venturing out for a stroll and applauding the healthcare workers and security forces who had been on guard.
