An announcement from Iceland’s government offices states that new changes are now in effect for quarantine and isolation, in large part due to the tremendous workload Icelandic hospitals are now facing.
According to the new regulations, isolation is seven days from a positive diagnosis with a PCR test, provided an individual is not experiencing any symptoms. Rapid tests and at-home tests do not count. People can release themselves from isolation, although doctors are authorised to extend isolation periods for anyone, rather than wait for hospital authorities to send them a message telling them that their isolation is concluded.
Furthermore, there are new regulations in place regarding quarantine. Those who have received three officially approved vaccinations at least 14 days before coming into contact with someone infected with the coronavirus, and those who have had it confirmed that they have the coronavirus and have received two shots, with the second shot delivered at least 14 days before infection and are not experiencing symptoms, do not need to go into total quarantine, but are obliged to abide certain social limitations. Quarantine is to last 14 days. These limitations are the following:
1. The individual may not go into a space where more than 20 people are present.
2. Despite this, an individual may attend work or school where there are more than 20 present, and in order to receive necessary services, i.e., health care, to purchase food or medication, and to use public transit.
3. The individual must wear a mask in the presence of others at all times, except for those one is in constant contact with (e.g. at-home family members).
4. The individual is not permitted to visit health care centres such as hospitals and nursing homes without the express permission of these places, and must avoid contact with those who are especially vulnerable to experiencing severe illness from the virus.
5. The individual will take a PCR test five days after these limitations go into effect, i.e. five days from confirmation of contact with the inefected, and will take a PCR test without delay should they exhibit any symptoms. A negative result will not shorten the length of these limitations.
Both of these changes were put into effect because of the workload hospitals are now experiencing, and due to the high number of people currently in quarantine and isolation.
Sadly, two people died of the coronavirus over the weekend, Vísir reports, taking the total death toll in Iceland to the coronavirus up to 41.
Where daily figures are concerned, there were 926 recorded domestic cases of the coronavirus in Iceland yesterday, plus an additional 170 at the border.
681 are in border screening quarantine, with 10,037 in domestic quarantine and 10,040 in isolation. According to the latest data from Landspítali hospital, there are currently 39 people in hospital and seven in intensive care. Of those in intensive care, five are unvaccinated.
284,335 people aged 12 and older have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of January 7th, comprising 91% of this age group. 162,678 have also received booster shots.
Getting a booster shot is a very straightforward process, with no barcode required. More information on that can be found here. For your first and second vaccination, you can sign up here.
As always, be sure to abide the domestic restrictions and border regulations.
More statistics and information can be found at covid.is or below.
This story has been updated.
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