Easing restrictions on schooling and gatherings
The Prime Minister, the Health Minister and the Minister for Justice presented the government's next steps regarding Covid-19 at a press conference yesterday. The Health Minister outlined his decision to ease restrictions on gatherings and school activities from 4 May.
The Prime Minister, the Health Minister and the Minister for Justice presented the government's next steps regarding Covid-19 at a press conference yesterday. The Health Minister outlined his decision to ease restrictions on gatherings and school activities from 4 May.
Face-to-face schooling resumed, crowd limits raised and
These include, among other things, the resumption of normal schooling in nurseries and primary schools, the reopening of secondary and higher education institutions with restrictions, the increase of the gathering limit from 20 to 50 people, and the resumption of various services, e.g. hairdressing, massage and beauty salons, dentists can resume operations and museums can reopen to their visitors. The minister's decision is in line with the recommendations of the Director of Public Health.
New infections have been decreasing
Just over 1,700 people have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the country, and just over a hundred people have been hospitalised due to the disease. As stated in a memorandum from the Director of Public Health to the Minister of Health, the number of new infections has been decreasing recently. It can be considered certain that the epidemic is in decline in Iceland, which can be attributed to the extensive public health measures that have been implemented. The Chief Medical Officer points out that community transmission is low, at less than 11% according to samples from deCODE. This means that if the current restrictions are eased too much, there is a risk that the epidemic will flare up again. The Chief Medical Officer therefore proposes that restrictions be eased in stages, to be reviewed at 3-4 week intervals.
The main changes that will take place on 4th May:
- The limit on gatherings is 50 people, up from 20 previously. The rule on maintaining a two-metre distance remains unchanged.
- School activities in nurseries and primary schools will proceed as normal.
- In further and higher education institutions, the general rule is a maximum of 50 people in the same room.
- Various services: Hair salons, massage parlours, physiotherapy, beauty salons, museums and similar establishments can open, but a 2-metre distance must be maintained between customers as far as possible.
- Healthcare services: All healthcare activities not involving elective surgery or other invasive procedures will be permitted. Dentistry will also be permitted.
- Organised sports activities for children of nursery and primary school age will be permitted outdoors with the following restrictions: 1) No more than 50 people will be in a group. 2) A two-metre distance should be maintained where possible, particularly with older children.
- Other organised sporting activities are permitted outdoors with the following restrictions: 1) No more than four people should train or play together. 2) Contact is not permitted and a two-metre distance must be maintained between individuals. 3) The use of shared equipment should be kept to a minimum; otherwise, it must be disinfected between uses.
Some points that remain unchanged:
- Exemptions for economically significant undertakings will remain unchanged.
- As at present, it will be permitted to admit 100 individuals into grocery stores and pharmacies at any one time, provided that certain specified conditions are met.
- Swimming pools and gyms will remain closed
- The rules for nightclubs, bars, casinos and similar establishments will remain unchanged, and such venues will therefore continue to be closed.
- The Chief Medical Officer's guidance of 23 March on elective surgery or other invasive procedures remains unchanged.