Breytingar á takmörkunum frá 4. maí 2020

Í auglýsingunni felst að reglur um fjöldatakmörk og um tveggja metra nálægðarmörk munu frá gildistöku hennar ekki eiga við um nemendur í starfsemi leik- og grunnskóla. Þannig verður því unnt að halda óskertri kennslu og vistun barna. Sama á við varðandi börnin í starfsemi dagforeldra, frístundaheimila, félagsmiðstöðva og annarri lögbundinni þjónustu á leik- og grunnskólastigi. Sundlaugar og líkamsræktarstöðvar verða áfram lokaðar almenningi en skólasundkennsla verður heimil.

Undir lok maí verður metið hvort hægt verði að aflétta takmörkunum enn frekar 

Áform stjórnvalda um tilslakanir á takmörkunum á samkomum og skólahaldi voru kynntar á fréttamannafundi forsætis-, heilbrigðis-, og dómsmálaráðherra 14. apríl síðastliðinn. Með auglýsingunni sem birt var 21. apríl sl.  eru breytingarnar nákvæmlega útfærðar. Í meðfylgjandi minnisblaði sóttvarnalæknis, dags. 19. apríl 2020, sem er viðbót við fyrri minnisblöð hans til heilbrigðisráðherra sem kynnt voru 14. apríl, er gott yfirlit yfir helstu breytingar sem auglýsingin hefur í för með sér varðandi skólastarf á öllum skólastigum, á íþróttastarf barna og fullorðinna o.fl. Sóttvarnalæknir leggur til við heilbrigðisráðherra að þegar líður að lokum maí verði skoðaðir möguleikar á að aflétta enn frekar takmörkunum á samkomum. Að því gefnu að ekkert standi slíkum breytingum fyrir þrifum verði stefnt að því að færa fjöldatakmarkanir úr 50 í 100 manns, opna sundlaugar og líkamsræktarstöðvar o.fl.

Það skal ítrekað að meðfylgjandi auglýsing um takmörkun á samkomum vegna farsóttar tekur ekki gildi fyrr en 4. maí næstkomandi. Frá sama tíma falla úr gildi núgildandi auglýsingar um takmörkun á samkomum og um takmörkun á skólastarfi.

Fylgiskjöl:

• Auglýsing um takmörkun á samkomum vegna farsóttar
• Minnisblað sóttvarnalæknis til heilbrigðisráðherra dags. 19. apríl
• Minnisblað sóttvarnalæknis varðandi afléttingu takmarkana á samkomum vegna Covid-19 eftir 4. maí 2020, dags. 11. apríl
• Viðbót við minnisblað dags. 11. apríl varðandi afléttingu takmarkana vegna Covid-19 eftir 4. maí 2020, dags. 13. apríl

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<<ENGLISH>>

Restrictions to be gradually lifted starting 4 May

At a press conference on the 21. of April , the Prime Minister, the Minister of Health, and the Minister of Justice introduced steps to lift the restrictions currently in place in Iceland due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The Minister of Health announced her decision to ease restrictions on larger gatherings and limitations on schools and preschools.

As of 4 May, larger gatherings will be limited to 50 people, instead of 20, and service providers, such as hair salons and dentists, will be able to open their doors again. High schools and universities will reopen with certain limitations, while elementary schools and preschools will return to normal. The decision is based on the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist.

More than 1700 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Iceland, and over 100 people have been hospitalized due to the virus. In recent days, the rate of new infections has slowed. The outbreak is thought to have reached its peak and is now on moving down, as a result of to wide-ranging containment and mitigation measures. The prevalence of the virus among the general population seems to be about 1%, according to the large-scale screening undertaken by the biotech company deCode. It remains necessary to maintain a certain level of restrictions, in order to prevent a second wave of infections. Thus, the Chief Epidemiologist proposes measures will be lifted incrementally and reviewed every three to four weeks.

Main changes from 4 May

• Limits on large gatherings will go from 20 to 50 people. The two-meter social distancing rule will still be in effect.
• Schools and preschools will operate normally.
• High schools and universities will reopen, but the 50-person limit and two-meter social distancing measures apply.
• Various services: Hair salons, massage parlours, physical therapy clinics, beauty parlours, museums, and other similar services can reopen, but are to maintain the two-meter social distancing rule as possible.
• Healthcare: Healthcare and dental practices (elective surgery excluded) will resume.
• Organized sports activities for children are permitted outdoors with limitations: 1) Groups will be limited to no more than 50 children. 2) Participants are to keep two meters apart as possible, especially in older age groups.
• Other organized sports activities are permitted outdoors with limitations: 1) No more than four individuals can train or play together. 2) Touching is prohibited, and individuals are to stay two meters apart. 3) The use of shared equipment should be limited, and all equipment sanitized after every use.
• The following measures will remain in effect: 1) Exemptions for economically significant companies will remain unchanged. 2) As before, grocery stores and pharmacies can allow up to 100 people to enter their establishments simultaneously. 3) Swimming pools and gym facilities will remain closed. 3) Nightclubs, bars, and similar businesses will remain closed. 4) The Directorate of Health’s instructions regarding the postponement of elective surgeries will remain in effect.