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Covid-19 Roundup: 16 New Cases
16 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed domestically yesterday. 11 of them were already quarantined at the time of diagnosis. This is roughly in line with the last week, which has mostly seen between 10 and 20 people diagnosed per day. The…
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Parish Fees To Increase
The majority of the Economic and Business Committee wants to increase the “parish fee” (sóknargjöld) by 11%, according to Stundin. The parish fee is a portion of income tax revenue that goes to religious associations in Iceland, and its increase would result…
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Covid-19 Roundup: 18 New Cases, 1 Death
18 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed domestically yesterday. Of these, 11 were quarantined at the time of diagnosis–the remaining 7 were not. The incidence of domestic infections has crept up over the last few days and now stands at 41.5. There…
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Houses In Danger From Avalanches
The Icelandic Meteorological Office has completed a new risk assessment for avalanches in Flateyri. This was reported in Vísir this morning. The new assessment has placed about thirty houses in Danger Zone C–the top hazard level. A further seventy have reached the…
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Black Sandvík Wasteland: Finding Iceland On Your Doorstep At Reykjanes
It turns out you don’t need to travel as far as Reynisfjara to kick off your shoes and luxuriate on a black sand beach. The Reykjanes Peninsula has its very own: Sandvík, located just 49 kilometres southwest of Reykjavík. And whilst we—the…
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Comfort & Contrast: Rakel Tomas Finds Peace In Black And White
Rakel Tomas’ new studio on Grettisgata feels like an extension of her graphic designs, with black framed pictures arranged on stark white walls. “I just really feel comfortable with black and white,” she explains. “I like the contrasts. I find bright, extreme…
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Covid-19 Roundup: 8 New Cases
8 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed domestically yesterday. Of these, just 3 were quarantined at the time of diagnosis. This follows 20 and 21 diagnoses on Thursday and Friday respectively, and 10 on Saturday. As fewer samples are taken on Saturdays…
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Falcon Deaths Traced To Lack Of Ptarmigans
Six dead or nearly-dead falcons have been found in Iceland throughout November, according to Vísir. Three of them were young and three were adults. Ornithologist Ólafur Karl Nielsen from the Icelandic Institute of Natural History said that when falcons are found dead…
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Thunderbolt And Lightning (Very, Very Frightening!)
Several lightning strikes have been detected amongst the storms and bad weather that is currently all over the country. According to Vísir, thunder was heard in the Suðurnes yesterday afternoon. Orange weather warnings are currently in effect in Breiðafjörður, Faxaflói, the Westfjords,…
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Covid-19 Roundup: 20 New Cases
20 new domestic infections were diagnosed yesterday. 9 of them were in quarantine at the time of diagnosis whilst 11 of them were not. This is the most that have been diagnosed in a single day for two and a half weeks:…
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Wrong Time To Abolish Pink Tax, Says Parliament
According to RÚV, the majority of the Economic and Business Committee of Parliament does not believe that it is the right time to abolish VAT on menstrual products, or the “pink tax” as it is often referred to. This comes following Scotland’s…
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Well, You Asked: Hand Wars
You asked. We answered. The Grapevine does not accept liability from this point forward. How can I pass the time stranded in an airport where everything is closed? Host an illegal gathering. Stand on your head. Count backwards from one thousand. Learn…
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Covid-19 Roundup: 11 Cases Diagnosed Yesterday
11 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed domestically yesterday. Of those, just 3 were in quarantine at the time of diagnosis. This is the highest daily figure so far this week. 45 are currently hospitalised with the virus and 2 of them…
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Víðir Reynisson Has Covid-19
Víðir Reynisson, the Director of Civil Protection and one of the three key figures in Iceland’s coronavirus response team, was diagnosed with Covid-19 yesterday afternoon, RÚV reported. Víðir has been in quarantine since Monday after an infection broke out in his immediate…
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Sausage Inflation At Famed Hot Dog Stand
The sausages sold at the Bæjarins Beztu hotdog stand have gone up in price, Vísir reported this morning. They have increased by 30 ISK, from 470 to 500. Guðrún Kristmundsdóttir, owner and managing director, said that the increase in price was due…
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Covid-19 Roundup: 7 New Cases
7 new cases of coronavirus were diagnosed domestically yesterday. Of these, only 2 were already in quarantine. 45 are currently in hospital with the virus, and 2 of them are in intensive care. This follows a gradual sloping off of numbers: since…
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New British Ambassador To Iceland Appointed
Dr Bryony Matthew has been appointed the new British Ambassador to Iceland, Vísir reported yesterday. She will take over the position from Michael Nevin, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment. Dr Matthew will be taking up the position in…
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Two Icelandic Grammy Nominees For 2021
The Iceland Symphony Orchestra and composer Hildur Guðnadóttir have both been nominated for Grammy Awards. This is the second time The Iceland Symphony Orchestra has been nominated for a Grammy, although they were last nominated over a decade ago in 2009. This…
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Gods Of Iceland: Frigg, The Cool Mom
Superpowers: An undisputed queen, ability to observe all worlds simultaneously. Weaknesses: Really forgetful when it comes to mistletoe, an arguable need to chill. Modern Analogue: Kris Jenner. Meet Frigg, the ultimate Old Norse tiger mom. Enemies of her children beware. Frigg will…
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Pandemic Police Peeking Through Windows
Þórdís Björk Sigurþórsdóttir, a mother in Hafnarfjörður, felt unfairly treated by a police intervention at her house on Friday night, Fréttablaðið reported yesterday. Several of her son’s friends, all students at Verslunarskóli Íslands, had gathered at her home to attend a digital…
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90% Reduction In Visitors To National Park
The number of visitors to Snæfellsjökull National Park in October has decreased by 90% between years, Fréttablaðið reported yesterday. In the last month, an average of nine people have climbed to the Saxhóll crater in the national park each day. Around 15%…
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Pandemic Restrictions Could Be Loosened Next Week
Given that Iceland now has the lowest incidence of domestic infections in Europe, it is possible that restrictions will be relaxed soon, RÚV reported last night. Chief of police Víðir Reynisson thanked the public for their solidarity, but also warned that the…
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RVK Newscast #50: Yule Cat By Brian Pilkington
We interview Brian Pilkington, the English-born Icelandic children’s author and illustrator. Brian is best known for his books about trolls, and for his Christmas books which develop traditional Icelandic Christmas characters such as the Yule Lads and the Yule Cat with his…
