Coronavirus Updates | Barcelona SAE

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR UPDATE ON MONKEYPOX

CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR UPDATE ON THE UKRAINE/RUSSIA CONFLICT

Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, we require all of our students to be fully vaccinated with a WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine to participate in a Barcelona SAE program. Students must also have had their booster dose for all programs with a start date of April 1, 2022 and beyond if they received their latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. We are not able to offer any exceptions to this policy as it is a measure we have put in place to ensure the safety of all of our students, our staff, homestay families, faculty, tour guides and citizens of Barcelona.

Dear Students, Partners, Colleagues & Friends,

The events surrounding COVID-19 have taught us all valuable lessons in health and safety and risk management, as well as the importance of relationships with our partners, cross-cultural sharing and understanding. Only by working together can we overcome the tremendous challenge of staying safe during a pandemic and ensuring a future for the all-important job that we do.

Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, we require all of our students to be fully vaccinated with a WHO approved COVID-19 vaccine to participate in a Barcelona SAE program. Students must also have had their booster dose for all programs with a start date of April 1, 2022 and beyond if they received their latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. We are not able to offer any exceptions to this policy as it is a measure we have put in place to ensure the safety of all of our students, our staff, homestay families, faculty, tour guides and citizens of Barcelona.

As International Educators, our role is more important than ever to facilitate educational experiences for our students. We are honored and pleased to have welcomed students back starting in Spring 2021 and to see the world of study abroad opening up again. We have been working tirelessly over the last 20+ months upgrading protocols, speaking with experts, and planning to mitigate risks associated with travel and study in this new environment.

At Barcelona SAE, we are proud to say that we have updated our already robust Risk Management Plan with a specific Covid-19 Addendum to maximize the safety and security of our participants and staff. The addendum has been created with the expertise of study abroad professionals, guidance from governing bodies, as well as a former Barcelona SAE staff member who earned his M.A. in Infectious Diseases, has worked as a registered nurse, and during the height of coronavirus cases in Barcelona, used his weekends to work in hospitals treating patients.

We base our COVID-19 Risk Management Plan on several sources including:

Center for Disease Control (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
US Department of State
Spanish Ministry of Health
Catalan Health Advisory Council
Association of North American University Programs in Spain (APUNE)
Guidelines from the Forum on Education Abroad
Guidelines from NAFSA: Association of International Educators
Guidelines from this Inside Higher Ed article

As we all know too well, guidelines are changing by the day. We have prepared our updated protocols with the most updated information available and we commit to closely monitoring new guidelines as they emerge. Our mission is to continue to offer a safe and enriching program while maintaining the essence of a Barcelona SAE program: cultural immersion, guided reflection in our cultural mentor groups, using Barcelona as the classroom, and personalized attention to our participants. With this in mind, we have also created new programming to meet students’ needs such as our Virtual Internships and Virtual Solutions.

If you have any questions, concerns or doubts, please feel free to talk to me, or your Barcelona SAE contact. We wish you all the best and a collective strength for optimism towards a brighter future that will come soon.

Rich Kurtzman | Founder & CEO

Disclaimer: Plans for our programming are always subject to change and will depend on the evolving recommendations of health care professionals.

COVID-19 & Monkeypox Update: September 20, 2022

Here at Barcelona SAE, our #1 priority is to keep our students safe. We hope these regular health & safety updates will assist students, their parents, and our sending institution partners to prepare for upcoming travel. 😷

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely. All Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions document is always up to date with all the information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19 & Monkeypox:

COVID UPDATE

Daily life:

Indoor masking is not mandatory in Spain with some exceptions. Masks are required in all public and collective transportation, to access hospitals, pharmacies, health care centers, and senior homes. Indoor masking is recommended when people are unable to keep a safe distance of 1.5 meters (4 feet), especially for vulnerable people, immunocompromised, over 60s, and pregnant women. Masks are also strongly recommended for people with COVID symptomatology.

Barcelona SAE follows all the government recommendations and keeps adapting its programs to the current requirements. COVID-19 prevention protocols are followed during activities as well as in the classrooms.

Cases and hospitalization numbers:

Since the end of March, Covid-19 cases have not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. On September 20th, 2.1% of hospital beds and 1.7% of ICU beds had patients with Covid-19.

Vaccination rates:

Spain has administered 95.739.565 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,8% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,4% of the population over the age of 5). 54,7 % of the Spanish population have received their booster shot. As of September 19th, 2022, official data shows that around 49% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and 87.8% of Catalans older than 12 years old are considered to be fully immunized.

From September 26th, Catalunya will start administering the 4th dose to people older than 80 years old.

MONKEYPOX UPDATE

As of September 19th, the CDC has registered 6,947 cases of Monkeypox in Spain; 2.119 of those were reported in Catalunya. There have been 3 deaths due to Monkeypox countrywide since the beginning of the outbreak.

The Monkeypox vaccination campaign has started in Catalunya and Spain for people considered at high risk: men under the age of 45 who have sex with men, as well as those who are already taking PrEP or diagnosed with HIV. The vaccine provides protection from the disease prior to potential exposure to the virus and also protects within four days following exposure if the person has no symptoms. Vaccination prior to potential exposure will only be done by appointment at three sites in Barcelona: the BCN Checkpoint, Hospital Clínic, and the ITS Drassanes – Vall d’Hebron sexually transmitted infections unit. You can read about the criteria to get vaccinated here.

Our program is in frequent contact with our hospital of reference and local health centers, and have created a protocol to assist students in case of contagion.

OF INTEREST

World Health Organization informed last Wednesday 14th of September, that the number of weekly reported deaths from COVID-19 globally plunged to its lowest since March 2020. Read it here.
As of Tuesday 20 September 2022, it will NO LONGER be necessary to fill in the health control form to travel to Spain NOR to present the SpTH QR code when boarding or at the arrival airport. The Spain Travel Health (SpTH) portal, both the website and the mobile applications, will no longer be operational. Read it here.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain with the second COVID vaccine are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received the second dose no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Travelers with the booster shot are considered fully vaccinated regarding the date of administration. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with the booster dose.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: September 8, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions document is always up to date with all the information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

Barcelona SAE follows all the government recommendations and keeps adapting its programs to the current requirements: COVID-19 prevention protocols are followed during activities as well as in the classrooms.

COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS NUMBERS

Since the end of March, Covid-19 cases have not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. On September 6th, 2.5 percent of hospital beds and 2.7 percent of ICU beds had patients with Covid-19.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Spain has administered 95.676.799 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,7% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,4% of the population over the age of 5). 54,6 % of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of September 6th, 2022, official data shows that 49.7% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 87.8 % of Catalans older than 12 years old are considered to be fully immunized.

OF INTEREST

Spanish Pharmacies now offer a combination of Covid and Influenza tests. Read it here.
Regular physical activity is linked to reduced risk of COVID-19. Read it here.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air in Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: August 24, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions documents is always up to date with all the information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS NUMBERS

Since the end of March, Covid-19 cases have not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. On August 24th, 3.5 percent of hospital beds and 3.2 percent of ICU beds had patients with Covid-19.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Spain has administered 95.612.723 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,7% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,3% of the population over the age of 5). 54,5 % of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of August 24th, 2022, official data shows that 49.7% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 83% of Catalans are considered to be fully immunized.

OF INTEREST

Covid hospitalizations fell below 1,000 patients for the first time since April. Read it here.
Read Barcelona SAE Monkeypox statement from August 15th here.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air in Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: August 3, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Summer and Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions documents is always up to date with all the information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS NUMBERS

Since the end of March, Covid-19 cases have not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. On July 26th, 8.7 percent of hospital beds and 5.9 percent of ICU beds had patients with Covid-19.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Spain has administered 95.426.003 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,7% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,3% of the population over the age of 5). 54,2 % of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of July 26th, 2022, official data shows that 49.7% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 82% of Catalans are considered to be fully immunized.

OF INTEREST

World Health Organization declares the ongoing monkeypox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. Read it here and here. Our students were informed via email about monkeypox risks, symptoms and what to do in case of exposure on July 25th.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air in Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: July 20, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Summer and Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions documents are continuously updated with new information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS NUMBERS

Since the end of March, Covid-19 cases have not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. Currently, 9.7 percent of hospital beds and 5.9 percent of ICU beds have patients with Covid-19.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Spain has administered 95.340.7422 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,6% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,3% of the population over the age of 5). 54% of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of July 18th, 2022, official data shows that 49.5% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 82% of Catalans are considered to be fully immunized.

OF INTEREST

All students, faculty, staff, and visitors are required to wear masks inside the classrooms and our building premises located at Carrer Casp 130. This decision has been made taking into consideration the latest information related to the current spread of the virus. This requirement will be in place until the end of the Summer semester and will be reviewed in the Fall semester.
Spanish citizens over 80 will have their fourth Covid vaccine dose in September. Read it here.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air in Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: July 5, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain, and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Summer and Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions documents are continuously updated with new information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

COVID CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS NUMBERS

Since the end of March, COVID-19 cases are not been registered in Spain. Only diagnostic test data for people over 60 is collected. However, the Health Authorities have noticed that the number of mild cases has grown during the past weeks due to two omicron sub-variants (BA.4 and BA.5).

Hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities weekly. Currently, 8.4 percent of hospital beds and 5.1 percent of ICU beds have patients with COVID-19.

VACCINATION UPDATE

Spain has administered 95.153.557 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,6% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,2% of the population over the age of 5). 53.7% of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of July 4th, 2022, Catalonia has administered 3,428,084 third doses. Official data show that 48.3% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 80% of Catalans are considered to be fully immunized.

The Ministry of Health does not plan to give another vaccine dose to people who already got a booster until after the end of the summer, although it encourages adults over 18 to get a booster if they haven’t already done so.

OF INTEREST

From July 6th, all students, faculty, staff, and visitors will be required to wear masks inside the classrooms and our building premises located at Carrer Casp 130. This decision has been made taking into consideration the latest information related to the current spread of the virus not only in Barcelona and Spain but also in other countries such as the U.S. This requirement will take effect on July 6th and will stay in place until July 18th. This period may be extended if the program deems it necessary.
Catalonia ensures COVID-19 vaccine interventions leave no community behind. Read it here.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air in Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

COVID-19 Update: June 22, 2022

We continue to monitor the situation in Catalonia, Spain and the world very closely, especially with the Omicron variant in mind. All Summer and Fall 2022 programs are running as scheduled. Our COVID Risk Management and Health and Safety Prevention and Precautions documents are continuously updated with new information to stay on top of new developments.

Here is the latest update regarding life in Barcelona and Spain in relation to COVID-19:

DAILY LIFE

Indoor masking is not mandatory in Spain with some exceptions. Masks are required in all public and collective transportation, to access hospitals, pharmacies, health care centers and senior homes. Indoor masking is recommended when people are unable to keep a safe distance of 1.5 meters (4 feet), especially for vulnerable people, immunocompromised, over 60s, and pregnant women. Masks are also strongly recommended for people with COVID symptomatology.

THE NUMBERS AND VACCINATION UPDATE

COVID-19 cases are not collected in Spain, only hospitalization rates are provided by the Health Authorities. Currently, 6.4 percent of hospital beds and 4.1 percent of ICU beds have patients with COVID-19.

Spain has administered 94.987.684 doses of the COVID vaccine so far. Currently, 85,5% of the Spanish population is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (89,2% of the population over the age of 5). 53.3% of the Spanish population have received their booster shot.

As of June 20th, 2022, Catalonia has administered 3,428,084 third doses. Official data show that 48.3% of Catalan residents have received a booster shot, and around 80% of Catalans are considered to be fully immunized.

OF INTEREST

Spain’s Health minister has announced a second booster this fall for people over 80, nursing home residents, and people who are immunocompromised. Read it here.
Starting as of June 12, 2022, the CDC no longer requires air travelers to show a negative COVID-19 test result, or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, prior to boarding a flight to the United States. In accordance with the CDC guidance, the students will still have to delay their return if they test positive for COVID-19.
Travelers entering or leaving Australia are not required to show a negative test result. All passengers arriving by air into Australia should complete a Digital Passenger Declaration and submit it at least 72 hours before departing for Australia.
As of February 1st, travelers visiting Spain are considered fully vaccinated only if they have received their last required dose of their COVID vaccine no less than 14 days and no more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain. Read it here.
Based on an abundance of evidence from around the world about the efficacy of the vaccines to help curb the spread of COVID-19, Barcelona SAE requires all students to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and have their booster dose for all programs if they received the latest dose of their COVID-19 vaccine more than 270 days prior to arrival in Spain.
Barcelona’s COVID prevention measures in English and in Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Since the landscape of travel and education abroad are rapidly changing, here are the answers to some FAQs at this moment in time but of course they may change based on the situation.

What are Barcelona SAE’s specific metrics to cancel a program?
- If the Spanish government does not allow US citizens to enter Spain, even for academic purposes, Barcelona SAE would not be allowed to offer an in-person program but would work with our university partners to find a virtual solution for academic and cultural programming.
- If the Spanish government forces all US citizens to leave Spain, we will facilitate the logistics of returning home by working in close contact with the US Consulate and sending universities, and we remain committed to continuing the academic portion of the program online, as well as cultural programming.
What extra precautions will be necessary for students and faculty with underlying health conditions?
- We will remind them of the extra risk inherent with traveling with a pre-existing condition at these times and that it might be wise to postpone their plans to study abroad.
How much will we limit students’ independent travel?
- As of February 2022, Barcelona SAE strongly discourages independent travel outside of Spain. Barcelona SAE can provide limited support for students who travel outside of excursions included with the program and recommends in-country travel.
Does Barcelona SAE provide CFAR (Cancel for any reason) or IFAR (Interruption for any reason) insurance?
- No. We recommend that students or universities research options for CFAR and IFAR if they are interested.

Refund Policy

Due to the unprecedented circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we have updated our refund policy to allow for maximum flexibility.

Virtual Solutions

While the world may have changed drastically due to the ongoing pandemic, the needs of students and university partners has not. This is why we have launched Barcelona SAE Virtual Solutions.

Find more information about our success-oriented Virtual Internships where you can still get valuable work experience with a local Spanish company to boost your resume as well as cultural and professional development, all from the comfort of your own home (or local café, if you prefer).

Please send us an inquiry at info@barcelonasae.com for more information about other Virtual Solutions such as Customized Faculty-Led, group consulting projects, hybrid virtual + in-country programs.

HELPING YOU CREATE YOUR BARCELONA EXPERIENCE.

We are the Barcelona Specialists!

HELPING YOU CREATE YOUR BARCELONA EXPERIENCE.

We are the Barcelona Specialists!

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