The appearance in Iceland of COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus, has begun to have farther reaching effects on society as a whole.
As reported, there have been three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iceland and some 300 other people in home quarantine. Vísir now reports that Landspítali hospital staff who returned from Italy last Friday—where the three Icelandic confirmed cases also returned from—will also be placed under 14-day quarantine.
Vísir also reports that many stores have been experiencing a run on hand sanitiser, and are having difficulty meeting the demand. That being the case, it bears mentioning that not all hand sanitisers are created equal, needing at least 60% alcohol to be effective, and even that can be detrimental to your skin. Your best defense against COVID-19 is still to wash your hands with soap and water.
The City of Reykjavík has been taking extra steps to keep things under control. City Council intends to earmark increased funding to cleaning the offices. In fact, the situation is as such that the current city workers strike now has a new wrinkle: Efling, the labour union currently striking, has issued an exemption for sanitation workers who work for Reykjavík, in light of the virus.
For everyone else, if you’re concerned about catching COVID-19, here’s everything you need to know to stay safe.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
