Impact of tightened measures on the services of Hafnarfjörður Municipality

Tighter closures and restrictions due to Covid-19
Impact on the services of Hafnarfjörður municipality

Due to outbreaks that have occurred this week, the Ministry of Health has issued a regulation with stricter measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19. The regulation came into effect at midnight. 

Important information can be found here:

• Covid.is
• Current public health regulations
• Current restriction on gatherings from 25 March – 15 April
• National restrictions from 25 March – 15 April in visual form

The measures have been introduced due to clusters of infections that have been identified as the British variant of the coronavirus. It is considered more contagious than those previously detected in the country. Because of this, teaching in the municipality's primary and music schools has been cancelled. Nurseries will continue to operate under the restrictions imposed by the regulation, which only permits ten adults to be gathered together in each quarantine bubble. Children born before 2015 are exempt from the rules. The Department for Family and Child Affairs will endeavour to maintain as full a service as possible. Face coverings are mandatory at all council facilities and it is important to maintain social distancing. Great emphasis is placed on hygiene and personal protective measures.

The Municipality of Hafnarfjörður takes the following measures in accordance with the regulation.

• All primary schools in Hafnarfjörður close
• Music school closes
• Youth clubs close
• After-school club closes
• School orchestras will not be operating.
• Nursery schools will be open
• Swimming pools are closing – the Ministry of Health has approved an exemption for swimming training and elite athlete training at Ásvallalaug, subject to certain conditions.
• The Hafnarfjörður Folk Museum and Hafnarborg maintain their usual opening hours with a limit of 10 people. Hafnarfjörður Library will be open from 10 am to 5 pm Monday to Thursday, from 11 am to 5 pm on Fridays, and from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturdays. All scheduled events are cancelled.
• Indoor and outdoor sports involving contact will be prohibited.
• The customer service and service centre will be open during normal hours with restrictions. The customer service is closed from 12 pm to 1 pm.
• The harbour of Hafnarfjörður is open to essential traffic.

Services of the Department of Family and Child Affairs

• Child protection is part of the core service that remains open at all response levels. There is no change to child protection services.
• Hraunsel is open but with limited services. You are welcome to come for an informal get-together, but you must let us know you are coming by phoning 555-0142 beforehand.
• All organised group activities such as darts, line dancing, dance fitness, bingo, bridge, social whist, crafts, book club and Qi gong are cancelled in the social activities for older people until further notice.
• The canteens for senior citizens at Hjallabraut and Sólvangsvegur are closed, but it is possible to order food for home delivery. It is being considered whether it is possible to reopen the canteens, given that some people already have antibodies. Food delivery is available for all senior citizens who wish to receive it.
• The operations of Geitungar and Vinaskjól are open with restrictions. 
• The Kletturinn leisure club is open with restrictions.
• The fitness centre at Bæjarhraun is open with restrictions. 
• Day care at Hrafnista is open, as is day training at Drafnarhús and Sólvangur.
• There will be no change to the home service for those with a registered service.
• Lækjar is open with restrictions.

In other general operations of the City of Hafnarfjörður, previously established response plans and zones will be followed to ensure that no more than 10 people are together in a space and that the two-metre rule can be maintained. The City of Hafnarfjörður's service centre at Strandgata 6 will remain open, but visitors must wear masks and observe the 2-metre social distancing rule. Residents and other visitors are encouraged to use online services, limit visits to the service desk to essential matters, and minimise the submission of documents. Documents will not be processed for at least 48 hours. The Town Hall will be open, but wearing a face covering will be mandatory and an effort will be made to keep all footfall to a minimum. 

Hafnarfjörður points to telephone services 585-5500, chat on www.hafnarfjordur.is and via the email address: hafnarfjordur@hafnarfjordur.is