New regulations from Svandís Svavarsdóttir, the Minister of Health, were put into place at midnight regarding disease control measures.
The rules remain largely the same as the previous regulations apart from some changes to registration of guests at event and rules regarding buffets.
These rules will be in place until the 9th of April, after Easter, where they will be reviewed again.
The following changes have been made
All guests at events such as such as religious and philosophical events, performing arts, culture and sports events, conferences, lectures and the like must be registered in numbered seats and take down information on each person’s name, ID number (kennitala) and telephone number.
No refreshments are allowed to be sold during breaks at these events and guests will be asked to remain seated.
No mixing between quarantine compartments; meaning that event organizers must ensure that there are no more than 50 people in each quarantine compartment and that there is no mixing of guests between compartments.
Buffets will be allowed however guests will be required to disinfect their hands before and after the buffet, in addition to the 2 meter proximity limit.
The rest remains the same
In all other respects, the rules remain unchanged. The maximum limit of the assembly ban will remain fifty people, the two-meter rule will remain in force and the mask obligation will remain unchanged.
The opening hours of entertainment and restaurants will also be the same as before.
Þórólfur Guðnason, chief epidemiologist, suggested that buffets be banned but the Minister of Health did not follow the recommendation.
At the border
As reported, those from outside of the Schengen area who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus, or who have recovered from it, may now visit Iceland without having to go into quarantine.
More information on that can be found on the official site of the Icelandic government.
Note: Due to the effect the Coronavirus is having on tourism in Iceland, it’s become increasingly difficult for the Grapevine to survive. If you enjoy our content and want to help the Grapevine’s journalists do things like eat and pay rent, please consider joining our High Five Club.
You can also check out our shop, loaded with books, apparel and other cool merch, that you can buy and have delivered right to your door.
Buy subscriptions, t-shirts and more from our shop right here!
