Greenland relaxes vaccination requirement for use of public transportation
Greenland’s decision to ban un-vaccinated people from public transportation will expire after July 23, instead of July 30, as domestic infections stabilize, officials announced on Wednesday.
The move comes after a government news release said on Tuesday that the rule would be in place until the end of the month.
The regulation was put in place after it was determined that public transportation had been a key vector of infection in many of this month’s COVID-19 outbreaks.
“The pattern of this outbreak has been very clear,’ Greenland’s chief medical officer Henrik L. Hansen said on Tuesday.
“It’s mainly unvaccinated people who become ill and it’s only unvaccinated people who have infected others. Normally we would have introduced a travel ban in this situation, as we did last year in March, but vaccinations and the new knowledge we have mean we’re recommending a much less intrusive measure and only limiting travel opportunities for those who aren’t vaccinated.”
People in several Greenlandic communities tested positive earlier this month, after cases were traced from a July 6 flight from Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq.
Other requirements still in effect
There is no quarantine requirement for domestic travel in Greenland, but those flying in from outside the territory are required to quarantine five days upon arrival until they receive a negative COVID-19 test, or, if they refuse a test, are required to quarantine for the full 14 days.
Write to Eilís at eilis.quinn@cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Outbreak declared over in Arctic Canadian city of Iqaluit, says chief public health officer, CBC News
Iceland: Iceland to require COVID-19 testing for vaccinated travellers over Delta variant concerns, Eye on the Arctic
Sweden: Sweden’s regions go for different strategies when vaccinating those under 18, Radio Sweden
