Guests stuck in coronavirus-hit H10 Costa Adeje Palace in Tenerife give glimpse at life inside quarantined hotel

Luke O'Reilly26 February 2020

Guests stuck inside a coronavirus-hit hotel in Tenerife have given a glimpse at life inside the quarantine.

People are eating pasta from plastic containers and continental breakfasts in takeaway boxes while staff wearing protective masks hand out water bottles.

The guests, including 160 Brits, will remain under lockdown at the four-star H10 Costa Adeje Palace in the south west of the Spanish island until March 10.

The Foreign Office is in touch with the UK citizens in the hotel, who have been told they will have to stay put for 14 days.

A meal provided for people quarantined in the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel in Tenerife
PA

It is understood that guests without symptoms are able to move around the hotel grounds, although some said they are still being told to remain in their rooms.

One guest staying in the hotel shared pictures of the food being provided, as well as thermometers and masks given out by staff.

Another meal being provided to the guests
PA

An Italian man and his wife were diagnosed with coronavirus during their stay at the hotel, and there are reports of two more cases.

The El Pais newspaper said 800 guests from 25 countries are in the hotel, along with around 200 workers.

A face mask and thermometer provided for people quarantined in the H10 Costa Adeje Palace hotel
PA

Two security perimeters remain in place, while a "field hospital" has been set up to treat anybody with coronavirus symptoms.

Hannah Green, 27, from Hertfordshire, who is staying in her room with her boyfriend, Court Amys, and their one-year-old son, said that nobody had approached them to take their temperature.

She said travel firm TUI has told her the family will need to stay on the hotel grounds until a quarantine period ends.

160 Britons are trapped inside
AFP via Getty Images

She added: "Everyone got tested yesterday - last night. They had their temperatures taken, except us and another couple so far that we know of.

"If we go out on to the balcony, the couple that we can see on our right hand side, they haven't (been checked) either, so it's our two rooms together.

"I was really upset this morning that the doctors hadn't been to see us. I feel like our son should be a priority because he's a baby.

"I know the doctors have got loads of people to see and I understand that but I'm gutted because it seems like everyone else has been seen except us and this other couple."

Water is being handed out at the hotel
via Reuters

Ms Green said the family were eventually given a thermometer on Wednesday morning and told to take their own temperatures.

She said their readings were currently normal, adding: "We've got to take our temperatures again at 6 o'clock."

Ms Green said she wanted to go home, but added: "The hotel has turned it round a little bit, they've started giving us food and the staff are working hard.

"It's not their fault, they didn't expect this to happen either. They have turned it around, it's just the lack of information really that's getting to us. We just don't know what's going on or how long we're going to have to be here.

"Late last night we got a sub roll thing, like a baguette. It's things in packets like biscuits and crackers and stuff like that. We got croissants this morning. We've been making do with stuff."

The guests are being kept on lockdown
via Reuters

Ms Green said the couple are watching a lot of news and can get Sky News on their TV.

Her 31-year-old partner, an electrician, said he had seen guests heading off to the pool and the restaurant was now open, which "makes no sense".

Mr Amys added: "I'm obviously worried for my child but we're getting there. I just need some information really.

"I've been putting the mask on and going for a walk to keep track of things but they're still not telling us anything, they're just saying 'Stay in your rooms'.

"They're also saying they're serving lunch in the restaurant today, which makes no sense to me.

"What they're saying is 'Keep your masks on, don't sit too close to people'. It's impossible, the restaurant's going to be absolutely chaotic with everybody down there.

"I'll be putting the mask on and going down to bring some food back up for my family."

Coronavirus: Costa Adeje Hotel lockdown in Tenerife

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He added: "There are a few different restaurants on site but the only one that's going to be open is the buffet restaurant.

"Everyone's touching everything and it just doesn't make any sense at all.

"There is quite a few people out and about but everyone's got masks on.

"There's a few people down by the pool trying to make the most of the sun, but everyone's got a mask on."

Mr Amys said there were big queues at reception "with people just wanting to know what's going on".

The lockdown will continue until March 10
AP

He added: "The front door has got big yellow tents set up outside it and the door's locked and nobody's allowed in or out.

"I don't think it's over the top. If the virus is here it needs to be contained so I do understand what they're doing.

"But they could do something about it a little quicker and let us know what's going on."

Nigel Scotland told BBC Radio 4's World At One that many of his fellow guests are ignoring advice to stay in their rooms.

"I counted 268 people on sunbeds," he said.

He said he also saw people swimming in the hotel pool and added that they had not been contacted by UK officials.

He said: "We haven't heard anything. Our great hope would be to be flown home quickly, because we probably have to do another 14 days of self-isolation when we get back."