Passengers arriving at Keflavík Airport on Monday were seen embracing upon entering the country. “This cannot happen,” Police Chief Viðir Reynisson said at a civil protection meeting on Tuesday, June 16th, RÚV reports. “The danger is just around the corner. It is very important that people pay close attention to this, even though they do not feel anything.”
Chief Epidemiologist Þórolfur Guðnasson said, “We need to be more clear that people who are getting screened must behave as if they are in quarantine until they get the results of the test.”
Director of Health Alma Möller added, “This is especially true of Icelanders, because we know that there is a greater risk of infection because they are in closer contact with Icelanders than tourists.”
At the meeting, the Prime Minister’s office manager Páll Þórhallsson said that some had not received a text message with results of the screening. “It has come to light that there is a need to have better information about people’s whereabouts,” he said. Therefore, the pre-registration form is being improved to that extent. Children no longer have to register when they come into the country.
As of this writing, five people from the airport screening tested positive with an active case of COVID-19. On Monday, of the 2,400 people screened, six tested positive for the virus, although four of the positive cases had antibodies and posed no threat of infection. One person tested positive for an active infection yesterday, June 17th, and is in isolation.
As ever, those looking for more information or advice should go to the Icelandic Government’s excellent COVID-19 help page.
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