The Minister of Health has decided, based on the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist, that Icelandic citizens and residents of Iceland who choose to be tested upon arrival will have to take special precautions during the first five days after arrival in Iceland or until they can be tested for the second time for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 9 July.
Number of tests: 2.159
COVID-19 positive samples: 4. Three of them have antibodies present and one is pending antibody test.
As of 15 June, 29.450 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, 12 have been diagnosed as infectious.
Currently there are 17 people in isolation in Iceland, 16 of them with active infection.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 8 July.
Number of tests: 1.341
COVID-19 positive samples: 2. Both are pending antibody test.
As of 15 June, 27.291 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, 12 have been diagnosed as infectious.
Currently there are 18 people in isolation in Iceland, 16 of them with active infection.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 7 July.
Number of tests: 1.685
COVID-19 positive samples: 7. Two of them have antibodies present and five are pending antibody test.
As of 15 June, 25.950 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, 11 have been diagnosed as infectious.
Currently there are 20 people in isolation in Iceland, 15 of them with active infection.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 6 July.
Number of tests: 1.319
COVID-19 positive samples: 7. One is an active infection, four have antibodies present and two of them are pending antibody test.
As of 15 June, 24.265 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, 10 have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 16 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 5 July.
Number of tests: 1.941
COVID-19 positive samples: 3
As of 15 June, 22.946 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, nine have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 16 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 4 July.
Number of tests: 1.794
COVID-19 positive samples: 3
As of 15 June, 20.983 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, nine have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 16 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 3 July.
Number of tests: 1484
COVID-19 positive samples: 5
As of 15 June, 19.189 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, nine have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 17 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
The Minister of Health has agreed to the Chief Epidemiologist's recommendations to revise the current border-screening, to be issued and effective no later than 13 July. The revision will only apply to Icelandic citizens and residents of Iceland who choose to be tested at the border. They would be required to self-quarantine for five days and undergo a second test, free of charge, to eliminate the risk of false negative results. As before, it will be possible to choose to self-quarantine for 14 days in stead of undergoing a test at the border.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 2 July.
Number of swabs: 1778
COVID-19 positive samples: 2
As of 15 June, 17.705 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, seven have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 13 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 1 July.
Number of swabs: 730
COVID-19 positive samples: 2
As of 15 June, 15.927 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, four have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 10 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 30 June.
Number of swabs: 1.310
COVID-19 positive samples: 3
As of 15 June, 15.197 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, four have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 11 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 29 June.
Number of swabs: 1.416
COVID-19 positive samples: 1
As of 15 June, 13.887 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, four have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 12 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 28June.
Number of swabs: 1365
COVID-19 positive samples: 1
As of 15 June, 12.471 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening atIceland’s borders. Thereof,four have been diagnosed as infectious.
Today, there are 12 people with active infection in Iceland and they are all in isolation.
Starting 1 July, passengers who choose to be tested on arrival will be charged a fee of ISK 11,000 if paid on site, but ISK 9000 if paid in advance. The fee is lower than initially announced (ISK 15000) as the testing has proven more cost-efficient than expected, due to higher testing capacity.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 27 June.
Number of swabs: 969
COVID-19 positive samples: 2
As of 15 June, 11.106 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof,four have been diagnosed with as infectious.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 26 June.
Number of swabs: 1022
COVID-19 positive samples: 2
As of 15 June, 10.137 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, four have been diagnosed with as infectious.
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 25 June.
Number of swabs: 856
COVID-19 positive samples: 1
As of 15 June, 9.115 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, four have been diagnosed with as infectious.
Here you willfind information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 24June.
Number of swabs:511
COVID-19 positivesamples: 3
New infections(are infectious): 2
As of 15 June, 8.259 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening atIceland’s borders. Thereof, 4 have been diagnosed with new infections (are infectious).
Here you will find information about COVID-19 border screening and infections yesterday 23 June.
Number of swabs: 1413
COVID-19 positive samples: 3
New infections (are infectious): 0
As of 15 June, 7.748 individuals have undergone COVID-19 screening at Iceland’s borders. Thereof, two have been diagnosed with new infections (are infectious).
The Ministry of Health has announced the outlines for a significant easing of restrictions on gatherings. The new measures take effect today 15 June. Gatherings of up to 500 people are allowed. Both svimming pools and gyms can now operate without any restrictions.
Iceland will continue to implement the EU/Schengen travel restrictions, which have now been extended until 1 July. EU, EFTA, and UK nationals will continue to be able to enter Iceland under the condition that they preregister and undergo either a test or a two-week quarantine upon arrival. While the EU/Schengen travel restrictions have now been extended until 1 July, the exemptions have been broadened, allowing students and experts from third countries to enter Iceland. In general, these restrictions apply to foreign nationals other than those from the EU, EFTA, and the UK.
The Government has today announced that all passengers arriving in Iceland from 15 June can choose to be tested for COVID-19 (free of charge for an initial two-week period) or quarantine for two weeks. From 1 July, passengers will pay ISK 15 000 for a single test. Children born in 2005 or later are exempt from both testing and quarantine.
The Government of Iceland has announced that it expects to start easing restrictions on international arrivals no later than 15 June 2020, while from 15 May some professionals arriving in Iceland including scientists, filmmakers and athletes will be eligible for a modified quarantine. The exact details of the revisions will be decided by the Government’s multi-sector working group, however it is expected they will give travelers the choice between a test for the virus on arrival or a two-week quarantine.
As of 4 May, larger gatherings are limited to 50 people, instead of 20, and service providers, such as hair salons and dentists, are able to open their doors again. High schools and universities are reopening with certain limitations, while elementary schools and preschools are returning to normal. The decision is based on the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist. See further information.
From Friday April 24th, international arrivals to Iceland must be quarantined for 14 days from their day of arrival and temporary internal Schengen border controls will be introduced on the same day. Barring any changes in the medical and scientific advice, these rules will remain in place until at least May 15th.
Further information at the Government of Iceland website.
In accordance with recommendations from Iceland’s Chief Epidemiologist, the Minister of Health has changed the current rules restrictions on arrivals due to the COVID-19 epidemic. From Friday April 24th, international arrivals to Iceland must be quarantined for 14 days from their day of arrival and temporary Schengen border controls will be introduced on the same day. Barring any changes in the medical and scientific advice, these rules will remain in place until at least May 15th.
At a press conference today, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Justice introduced steps to lift the restrictions currently in place in Iceland due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Minister of Health announced her decision to ease restrictions on larger gatherings and limitations on schools and preschools. As of 4 May, larger gatherings will be limited to 50 people, instead of 20, and service providers, such as hair salons and dentists, will be able to open their doors again. High schools and universities will reopen with certain limitations, while elementary schools and preschools will return to normal. The decision is based on the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist.
Further information available here.
23. 03. 2020
Those who are quarantined by order of the healthcare authorities can now enter their personal information on the website heilsuvera.is and receive a certificate confirming their quarantine status. The certificates are provided free of charge. It should be noted that in order to register on heilsuvera.is, the user must have a so-called digital certificate (e-ID).
Those who do not have an e-ID and cannot use the heilsuvera.is website should contact their healthcare centre. The healthcare centre will then forward information on the quarantined individual to the Chief Epidemiologist. In order to receive confirmation of quarantine, those who need such confirmation can request it by sending an e-mail to mottaka@landlaeknir.is, with the subject line: Confirmation of quarantine.
The Icelandic government has announced a ban on gatherings of 20 people or more, starting Tuesday 24 March 2020. These measures are put in place to halt the spread of COVID-19 infections in Iceland, following recommendations from the Chief Epidemiologist to Svandís Svavarsdóttir Icelands‘s Minister of Health. The advice of the Chief Epidemiologist to the Minister of Health has been to focus the response in Iceland on the swift diagnosis of COVID-19 cases.
The ban is in force until 12 April 2020. The changes today modify the previous 100-person limit, in place since 16 March 2020. Further, people must ensure that they keep a distance of at least two (2) meters between individuals. No changes are made to the organisation of schools at this point.
All gatherings where more than 20 people are in attendance are prohibited for the duration. This includes public and private spaces.
People must ensure that they keep a distance of at least two (2) meters between individuals.
In all businesses and places of work no more than 20 people should share a space. This includes public transport and similar operations.
Grocery stores and pharmacies are excluded from this rule and can have up to 100 customers at a time. Common areas shall be organised so that a distance of at least two (2) metres between individuals can be maintained. Grocery stores larger than 1000 sq. meters can add one customer per each additional 10 sq. meters up to a maximum of 200 customers at a time.
Closure of public spaces and certain operations
Swimming pools, gyms, pubs and dance halls, slot machines and museums will be closed for the duration.
Operations and services that require close contact between persons or risk close contact will be prohibited. This includes sport clubs, hairdressers, beauty salons, massage parlours and similar activities. This further includes all sporting activities where the use of equipment is shared between participants (including ski-lifts).
Cleaning and disinfecting of public places
All stores, public buildings and other frequented indoor spaces must be cleaned as often as possible, especially surfaces.
Hand disinfectant must be available at all entrances and in more frequented spaces such as at checkouts in stores.
Exclusions:
Measures regarding school on all levels in Iceland remain unchanged from the measures in place since 16 March 2020.
The measures do not affect those who seek urgent or necessary medical attention.
The measures do not affect international airports, ports or to plains or ships.
Exemptions:
The Minster of Health can grant exemptions from these restrictions in cases of public service or for security reasons, as well as for the protection of human and animal health.
The Chief Epidemiologist may grant exemptions from quarantine due to socially indispensable infrastructures. These include: electricity, telecommunications, transport, health care, law enforcement, ambulances services and fire brigades.
All previous exemptions for quarantine are now void and those who have received such in the past must apply again.
The Minister of Health will publish an advertisement in the official government gazette, setting out the measures in details. The measures will be in place until the 12 April 2020 and apply to all parts of the country. The Government can and may revise them.
These targeted measures have been taken to reduce the rate of infection and active communication with the public, institutions and businesses has reinforced those actions. Special consideration will continue to be given to the protection of vulnerable groups.
A ban on public gathering and events is taken to reinforce the measures already taken to reduce the rate of infection of COVID-19 and maintain the capacity of the health system during the epidemic.
All information on COVID-19 response in Iceland can be found at www.covid.is/english and www.covid.is/polski. Information on the economic response of the government can be found here.
Children and the ban on gatherings
Schools, pre-schools, and athletic organisations have carefully organised their schedules for the days and weeks to come in order to comply with the Minister of Health and Social Security’s instructions restricting school activities and gatherings.
It is extremely important that children’s parents and guardians simultaneously reduce the number of people in their children’s contact network outside of school in order to avoid working against these measures. It is helpful to bear the following in mind:
Schoolmates who are not in the same group in school (the same class) should not interact closely outside of school.
If the children are mature enough to obey instructions on reduced contact with friends, it is possible to permit them to play together. If they do so, they must not engage in any play that involves touching one another physically, or sharing toys or equipment that they touch with their bare hands.
Children and young people should always wash their hands thoroughly, both before they meet their friends and after they come home.
Families should bear in mind that if children interact frequently with friends or relatives from other schools or school groups, there will be contact between groups that would otherwise remain separate. Such contact should be avoided as much as possible.
Families are encouraged to use technology to maintain good contact with loved ones who are at increased risk of catching COVID-19 — particularly elderly people and those with underlying illnesses.
This is also a good opportunity to teach children to write letters, which will help them to practise handwriting and spelling, use their imagination, and think in “problem-solving mode” about interactions with loved ones.
Concerning households where some members are in quarantine and others are not:
Children who have the maturity and capacity to take care of their own hygiene and keep the required distance from quarantined parents and from their schoolmates may continue to attend school. It is very important to observe proper hygiene; for instance, to use bathroom facilities.
Parents of older children who are in quarantine and can maintain the required distance from children during their quarantine may continue to go to work if remote working is not an option.
The entire household must quarantine itself if the children do not have the maturity or capacity to follow the instructions that apply to quarantine measures. Another solution in such cases would be for the household members who are not in quarantine to move elsewhere during the quarantine period.
The Chief Epidemiologist has decided to extend further defined areas with high risk of infection of COVID-19.
As of March 19, 2020 all residents in Iceland that enter the country are obligated to go in to 14 days of quarantine regardless of where they come from. This also applies to Icelanders living abroad who are coming to Iceland.
Excluded are crews of transportation as airlines and freighters.
For further information see here: https://www.covid.is/categories/how-does-quarantine-work
Samhæfingarstöð almannavarna
The Directorate of Health and The Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management are responsible for this website.
