Faroe Islands institutes new COVID-19 recommendations until the end of 2020
The Faroe Islands has instituted new COVID-19 recommendations this month, including advising against non essential travel overseas, that it says will remain in effect until the end of the 2020.
The government is also advising all travellers to get tested three days before departure to the region to avoid brining COVID-19 to the islands.
Upon arrivial, COVID-19 tests are obligatory both for visitors and Faroese, except for children under 12 years old. Test results are given within 24 hours and people are required to remain in quarantine until they’ve been informed whether they have COVID-19 or not.
If negative, the government says a second follow up test should still be taken six days after arrival in order to avoid false negative results. Between the test on arrival and the second test at six days, the government advises people to avoid social gatherings and going to work if an individual cannot isolate from co-workers.
A message system is also being put in place to send out SMS or email reminders to people to remind them to be tested on day six.
Home for Christmas is OK, say authorities
Government authorities say everyone is welcome home to the Faroe Islands for Christmas but says double testing upon arrival and respecting public health directives will be key, including limiting gatherings to no more than 20 people.
Tests costs approximately 390-500 Danish kroner ($81-$104 CDN).
The new recommendations this month came into effect on November 13.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Travel ‘bubble’ in northern Canada between N.W.T. and Nunavut suspended until further notice, CBC News
Greenland: Greenland adds new incentive to promote domestic tourism as international travel craters, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: New COVID-19 restrictions for Iceland’s schools and universities, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Sweden’s northernmost county among regions to introduce stricter COVID-19 recommendations, Radio Sweden
United States: After early containment success, there’s now rapid COVID-19 spread in rural Alaska, including the Arctic, Alaska Public Media
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