Iceland to lift further COVID-19 restrictions September 15
Iceland is set to further lift some of its COVID-19 restrictions on September 15 as case numbers and hospitalizations continue to fall.
The decision was made Tuesday morning upon recommendations from Iceland’s chief epidemiologist.
“The memorandum of the epidemiologist states, among other things, that the epidemic is slowing down since the current wave reached its peak July 30,” the government said in a news release on Tuesday.
“In recent days, few have been hospitalized. The situation at (The National University Hospital of Iceland) due to COVID-19 is not as serious now as before in this wave.”
Among the new changes are raising the number of people allowed to gather in groups to 500. At events offering rapid testing, groups up to 1,500 people have been OK’d.
Restaurant opening hours will also be extended by one hour to midnight.
Indoor masking and social distancing rules of one metre will stay in place except in certain exceptions such as seated events.
Slow lifting of further public health rules
As of September 14, Iceland was reporting 135.3 domestic infections per 100,000 people, and 6.3 cases per 100,000 people at the border.
The government said further modification of public health measures would continue to be done gradually.
Iceland lifted all domestic COVID-19 restrictions in June 2021 but was quickly engulfed in its fourth wave due to the Delta variant .
“The memorandum of the epidemiologist states that in light of the experience gained lifting all domestic restrictions at the end of June 2021, he believes it’s right to proceed slowly in the near future,” the government said.
The new regulations will be in place until October 6.
Write to Eilís Quinn at eilis.quinn(at)cbc.ca
Related stories from around the North:
Canada: Health board looking to delay Quebec vaccine passport for Nunavik youth until mid fall, Eye on the Arctic
Greenland: Greenland announces COVID-19 reopening plan, Eye on the Arctic
Iceland: Iceland sets up committee to examine COVID-19 response, Eye on the Arctic
Russia: Ten percent of population on Russia’s Kola Peninsula has been infected with COVID-19, The Independent Barents Observer
Sweden: Sweden extends COVID-19 test recommendations for travellers from abroad, Radio Sweden
