Easing of public health measures from 10 December

Health Minister Svandís Svavarsdóttir has decided on changes to the public health measures, which will come into effect on 10 December. Cautious relaxations will be made to the regulation on gathering restrictions due to the pandemic, and the changes will be in force until 12 January. The regulation on restrictions on school activities due to the pandemic will remain largely unchanged until the end of the year, but new rules for school operations are expected to be introduced shortly, to take effect on 1 January 2021.

See the news on the Stjórnarráðið website. 

A delicate situation

The changes are largely in accordance with the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer in the attached memoranda. As stated there, there have been fluctuations in the development of the COVID-19 pandemic since the rules on the current public health restrictions came into force. There was a significant increase in the number of daily new infections at the end of November, but in recent days the number of cases has fallen again, and most of those diagnosed have been in quarantine. „It is therefore clear that the epidemic is under reasonable control at present, but at the same time, the situation at this point is fragile, as it could go either way,“ states the memo from the Director of Public Health.

Key changes to the social gathering restrictions

• Limitation: Continues to apply to 10 people, but with certain exceptions.
• Children: Provisions on limits on numbers, social distancing and the requirement to wear a face covering do not apply to children born in 2005 or later.
• Shops: All shops may admit 5 people per 10 m², up to a maximum of 100 people.
• Restaurants: It will be permitted to accommodate 15 customers in the premises. It will be permitted to remain open until 22:00, but no new customers may be accepted after 21:00.
• Swimming and bathing places: It will be permitted to have open for up to 50% of the maximum number of guests in accordance with the operating licence.
• Icelandic Sports Federation: Training for individuals born in 2004 and earlier is permitted with and without contact in top-level sports under the auspices of the ISI. Training for elite athletes in individual sports is permitted. However, training that requires contact within combat sports is not permitted.
• Other sports: Everyone is permitted to take part in organised outdoor training that does not require contact.
• Performing arts, film screenings and other cultural events will be permitted with up to 30 people on stage, i.e. for rehearsals and performances. It will be permitted to accommodate up to 50 seated guests, who must wear a mask, and up to 100 children born in 2005 or later. Neither interval nor alcohol sales are permitted. Seats must be numbered and registered to the name.
• Funeral services: The maximum number at funerals will be 50 people.
• Validity period: The above changes are valid from 10 December until 12 January 2021.

Changes to the restrictions on school activities

• Provisions on mixing and the maximum number of nursery children have been removed. This allows nurseries to better adapt their operations over the holidays, as groups of children are often combined between departments or even between nurseries.
• The 2-metre rule and mask requirement are lifted for pupils in Years 8 to 10, in accordance with the regulations on gathering restrictions.
• Study spaces in secondary schools and universities opened for up to 30 students.
• Rules on school operations, taking effect from 1 January 2021, will be announced shortly.
• Validity period: The above changes are valid from 10 December to 31 December.

Review provision are in regulations on public health measures which stipulate that the government shall reassess the need for restrictions as the situation permits, whether for greater relaxation or, as the case may be, for stricter measures.

• Regulations on the restriction of gatherings due to the pandemic
• Regulations on the 4th amendment to the regulations on the restriction of school provision due to the pandemic
• A memorandum from the Director of Public Health on restrictions on public gatherings
• A memorandum from the Director of Public Health on restrictions on school activities