Covid-19: Restrictions to continue until 10 November
The Minister of Health's regulations on public health measures, which come into force on Tuesday, 20 October, have been confirmed and will be published in the Government Gazette today, 19 October. The regulations are in force until 10 November. On the one hand, there is a new regulation on restrictions on gatherings due to the pandemic, and on the other, an amendment to the regulation on restrictions on school activities due to the pandemic.
COVID-19: Regulations on public health measures coming into force on 20 October
The Minister of Health's regulations on public health measures, which come into force on Tuesday, 20 October, have been confirmed and will be published in the Government Gazette today, 19 October. The regulations are in force until 10 November. These are, on the one hand, a new regulation on restrictions on gatherings due to the pandemic, and on the other, an amendment to the regulation on restrictions on school activities due to the pandemic. The regulations are attached.
The Ministry of Health published a notice last Friday outlining the main points of the planned changes to the public health measures, which will come into effect tomorrow, Tuesday, subject to the precise details of individual elements being clarified by regulation. In drafting the regulation, the main principles of public health measures were followed: ensuring that people maintain distance from one another, do not gather in large groups, and do not share common touchpoints unless they are disinfected between individuals. Furthermore, public health considerations are also taken into account, with an emphasis on ensuring that as many people as possible can engage in some form of sport and physical activity.
Attention is drawn to section 5. clause of the accompanying regulations on restrictions on gatherings concerning the implementation of the distancing restriction in sports, etc., and the transitional provision of the regulations which provides for stricter restrictions in the capital region than apply nationwide. Further details are provided below.
Sports and competitions outside the capital region:
- Despite the 2-metre distancing restrictions Contact is permitted between athletes during training and competitions organised by the Icelandic Sports and Olympic Association (ÍSÍ), but the 2-metre rule must be observed in changing rooms and other areas outside of competition and training. Despite the 20-person limit is up to 50 individuals permitted to gather for training and competitions organised by the IOC. Spectators are not permitted at sporting events.
- Sports and leisure activities: It is permitted, subject to conditions, to hold and participate in sports and fitness activities for organised group sessions where all participants are registered. Under these conditions, the 2-metre rule must be observed, participants must not share equipment during a session, and all equipment must be disinfected between sessions. Shared use of equipment that is floor-, ceiling- or wall-mounted, e.g. in fitness centres, is not permitted.
Capital Region
- Sports and fitness activities: It is permitted, subject to conditions, to hold and participate in sports and fitness activities for organised group sessions where all participants are registered. Under these conditions, the 2-metre rule must be observed, participants must not share equipment during a session, and all equipment must be disinfected between sessions. Shared use of equipment that is floor-, ceiling- or wall-mounted, e.g. in fitness centres, is not permitted.
- Licences for sporting activities, training and competitions organised by the ISI are not valid in the capital region.
- Sports, youth and leisure activities for children of nursery and primary school age, including school swimming, which requires more contact and greater mixing of groups than in school activities, is prohibited in the capital region, i.e. in Reykjavík, Seltjarnarnes, Mosfellsbær, Kjósarhreppur, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær and Kópavogur.