COVID-19
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COVID-Cast #14: Eleven In Intensive Care, Two More Deaths And The Status Of PPE Supplies
Valur Grettisson and Poppy Askham go over Iceland’s latest COVID-19 news including travel advice, an outbreak of the virus in a Westfjords nursing home and discussions about PPE supplies in Iceland. As we start the week during which Iceland’s outbreak is predicted…
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Alcohol Sales On The Rise In Iceland As COVID-19 Outbreak Worsens
Many Icelanders are turning to an age-old solution in these anxiety-inducing times: alcohol. But as COVID-19 has tightened its grip on Iceland, noisy crowds gathered outside downtown bars have been replaced with solemn two-metre-spaced queues outside Vínbúðin stores. Figures released last week…
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COVID-19 Update: 2 More Deaths, Half Of Cases Asymptomatic
A round up of the weekend’s COVID-19 developments in Iceland including two new deaths, the results of random sampling, and Icelanders’ level of confidence in the government. Bridge star dies Sigurður Sverrisson, a renowned Icelandic bridge player, has become the fifth person…
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Random Sampling Reveals 0.6% Of Icelanders Infected With COVID-19
Random sampling carried out by deCODE has shown that the COVID-19 incidence in the general population in Iceland is 0.6%, mbl reports. According to deCODE, 13 of the 2,300 people selected at random from the capital area tested positive positive for COVID-19.…
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COVID-19 Update: Gathering Ban Extended Until May
The 20-person gathering ban in Iceland has been extended until May 4th. The initial ban was due to expire on April 13th, but yesterday Þórólfur Guðnason, Iceland’s epidemiologist advised an extension and this afternoon Svandís accepted the proposal. There will be no…
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Not Letting Panic Guide Us: Chief Medical Officer Alma Möller On How Iceland Is Dealing With COVID-19
As some countries close their borders, screenings and tests are either too expensive or impossible to get a hold of, and even some world leaders take up science-denying rhetoric, Iceland has distinguished itself in its fight against the spread of the novel…
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Secret Solstice Postponed Until 2021
It is with great regret that we inform readers that Secret Solstice is the latest event to fall foul of the COVID-19 pandemic. The festival will not take place this year, instead it has been postponed until June 25-27th, 2021. In a…
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New App Aims To Ease COVID-19 Healthcare Crisis In Iceland
An app that will help doctors and nurses cope with the burden of COVID-19 on the Icelandic healthcare system will soon be released. Icelandic healthcare tech company Sidekick health and several other companies including CCP have worked together to create a remote…
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66° NORTH Provides Masks To Icelandic Healthcare Workers
Icelandic clothing company, 66° NORTH is providing healthcare services with large quantities of personal protective equipment for use by workers treating COVID-19 patients. The firm has already sent Icelandic healthcare employees 4,000 masks and an additional 400 kg delivery of equipment including…
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COVID-Cast Episode #13: Ghost Town Reykjavík
On this episode, Valur Grettisson and his new co-host, Pollý, walk through downtown Reykjavík. With the gathering ban and most people in isolation, it’s safe to say that few were walking around. Currently, the gathering ban is set to continue on until…
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Two COVID-19 Deaths In Iceland Within One Day
Two deaths caused by COVID-19 in the last 24 hours at Landspítali have been announced, bringing the virus’ death toll in Iceland up to four. One of the fatalities is believed to be the husband of the 71-year-old woman who died on…
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Rate of Employment Plummeting In Iceland Due To COVID-19
Employment rates in Iceland have fallen dramatically as the economic impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic begin to be felt by workers. New information released by the Directorate of Labour reveals the scale of the crisis, accompanying mass dismissals at major Icelandic firms.…
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COVID-Cast #12: Infection Slowing Down, Four-Month Old Child Diagnosed & The Situation In The U.S.
In this episode of COVID-Cast, Valur Grettisson and Sam O’Donnell discuss the current number of patients in Iceland, a four-month-old boy who got infected with the virus, and also dive into the current situation in the United States, where Sam is from.…
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New Prediction Model For COVID-19, Now Available In English
The University of Iceland’s Health Sciences Institute has released a new prediction model, which is also available in English for the first time. Although the number of infected people has gone down, the prediction model is actually more pessimistic than it was…
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COVID-19 Tracking App Launches Today
An app that tracks potential COVID-19 infections in Iceland is being launched today, Fréttablaðið reports. It will use GPS to locate people who may have been in close contact with confirmed coronavirus patients. A message containing a link to where the app…
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Icelandic Government Passes 26 Billion ISK COVID-19 Action Package
Last night, the Icelandic Parliament approved an investment programme costing almost 26 billion ISK designed to tackle the COVID-19 epidemic and its expected impacts on Icelandic society, Fréttablaðið reports. The Alþingi passed five bills concerning COVID-19 and a supplementary budget was introduced…
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Strætó Reduces Bus Journeys Due To Covid-19
Strætó has announced new changes to its bus service in response to the worsening COVID-19 outbreak in Iceland. These changes will reduce the number of buses running in the capital area and come into effect today, Tuesday, March 31st. On weekdays, buses…
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Iceland Expects Huge Shipment Of Anti-Malarial Drug To Fight COVID-19
A shipment of 50,000 packages of the anti-malarial drug Hydroxchloroquine is expected to arrive in Iceland this weekend, RÚV reports. The drug is thought to potentially be an effective treatment for COVID-19. Pharmaceutical company Alvogen has purchased 50,000 packages of Hydroxychloroquine from…
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Icelanders Offer Sick Farmers A Helping Hand
Almost 100 Icelanders have volunteered to help out farmers affected by COVID-19, Visir reports. Volunteers will provide manual labour to farmers who fall ill from the novel coronavirus, to help ensure the country’s agricultural sector does not grind to a halt as…
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COVID-Cast #11: Iceland Breaks 1,000 Cases & Bans Dividends On Companies That Get Bridge Loans
Valur Grettisson and Poppy Askham go over Iceland’s latest COVID-19 news and Poppy talks about the current situation in her home country, the UK. The rise in Iceland’s number of confirmed cases is apparently slowing. This might change, but it could be…
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EasyJet Grounds Entire Fleet Due To COVID-19
British budget airline, EasyJet has announced their decision to cancel all scheduled flights indefinitely in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Planes will be grounded for at least two months. EasyJet had already cancelled most flights last week and was only running ‘rescue…
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It’s Time To Embrace Ugly Haircuts For The Greater Good
“We just have to have an ugly haircut for the next few weeks. We have to live with it.” Víðir Reynisson, National Chief of Police, told reporters during Friday’s press briefing, RÚV reports. Víðir pleaded with Icelanders to respect the governemnt’s new…
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COVID-Cast #10: Virus Slowing, Blue Lagoon Lay-Offs & Testing Swabs Found
Valur Grettisson and Hannah Jane Cohen go through the latest news about the COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland. Currently, the numbers of patients are up but the virus is spreading slower in Iceland than in other parts of Europe. Also on the roster:…