COVID Roundup: Chief Epidemiologist Expects Rise In New Cases Following Quarantine Changes

Following yesterday’s announcement from Minister of Health Willum Þór Þorsson that Iceland’s quarantine regulations would change, Chief Epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason told RÚV that he expects there will now follow a rise in coronavirus cases, especially amongst children and in schools.

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As reported, a statement from the Ministry of Health said that these quarantine changes were made in harmony with recommendations from Þórólfur. Þórólfur told reporters that his memorandum had emphasised that it was necessary to make changes slowly and carefully. At the same time, the memo also stated that his recommendations would likely lead to an increase in coronavirus amongst children and in schools.

That said, making other types of social changes would likely lead to an increase in cases amongst the elderly, the memo states, and it is important to reduce the number of hospitalisations from the virus.

Where daily numbers are concerned, there were 1,539 recorded domestic cases of the coronavirus in Iceland yesterday, plus an additional 58 at the border.

192 are in border screening quarantine, with 11,744 in isolation. There are currently 38 people in hospital with the coronavirus and three in intensive care.

285,974 people aged five and older have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus as of January 26th, comprising 80% of this age group, or 78% of the total population. 187,623 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.