Relaxation of restrictions from 29 January

COVID-19: Significant easing of domestic restrictions from 29 January

General crowd limits will be 50 people, the social distancing rule will be 1 metre, nightclubs and entertainment venues may reopen, and their opening hours, along with those of other food and drink establishments, will be extended by two hours. Seated events for up to 500 people will be permitted, provided certain conditions are met. Restrictions in schools will remain largely unchanged. This is the main content of amendments to the regulation on gathering restrictions, which will come into effect on 29 January, in accordance with a decision by the Minister of Health.

Notice on the website of the Cabinet Office   

The Minister of Health presented planned changes at a Cabinet meeting this morning. This is based on the attached memorandum from the Director of Public Health to the Minister of Health. It also contains a draft plan for the next six weeks for the easing of restrictions.

Changes from 29 January:

• General mass gathering restrictions to be increased from 10 to 50 people.
• The social distancing rule should be reduced from 2 metres to 1 metre.
• The mask requirement remains unchanged, but generally takes the proximity rule into account.
• Swimming pools, spas, gyms and ski resorts will be permitted to operate at 75% capacity.
• Sporting competitions will continue to be permitted with 50 participants, and spectators will be allowed again.
• The maximum number of people in shops can be 500.
• Entertainment venues, pubs, casinos and slot machines will be allowed to reopen.
• Restaurants, including pubs and nightclubs, will be permitted to admit new customers until 23:00, but guests will be required to leave the premises at 00:00.
• For seated events, it will be permitted to host up to 500 guests per room; a 1-metre social distancing rule must be maintained between unaccompanied guests, and face coverings must be worn. Rapid tests will not be required.
• Restrictions in schools will remain unchanged, although they will be adapted to the above-mentioned relaxations where applicable.
• The regulation will be in force for almost four weeks, until 24 February.

The minister deviated slightly from the recommendations of the Chief Medical Officer, namely by bringing the new rules into force earlier, extending the opening hours of restaurants by two hours instead of one, and increasing the maximum number of people in shops.

Draft winding-up plan and its assumptions

In his memorandum, the Chief Medical Officer for Public Health sets out a plan to lift public health measures, which he believes should be done in stages. The Chief Medical Officer for Public Health emphasises that during the lifting of measures, a temporary increase in community transmission can be expected, which could both lead to an increase in the number of serious cases and disrupt the operations of many businesses due to staff illness. A state of emergency could therefore arise in many workplaces, requiring special measures, and companies must be prepared to operate with a reduced workforce for some time. It is important to bear in mind that the epidemic will not end in this country until good herd immunity has been established, which could be achieved in just under two months. The Chief Medical Officer considers, in light of the above, that it is sensible to aim to lift all restrictions by mid-March 2022, provided that current assumptions hold, i.e.i.e. no new variants of the virus emerge, there is no increase in serious illnesses causing excessive pressure on the healthcare system, or excessive staff absenteeism in various businesses that creates a state of emergency.

The Health Minister and the Government will use the easing plan as a guide for the next stages of easing, and the situation will be regularly assessed, particularly the pressure on the health service, with a response based on the circumstances. This may mean that easing measures are introduced earlier than the plan provides for, or are postponed if the circumstances change, for example due to new variants of the virus.

• Memorandum from the Director of Public Health, dated 26 January 2022, on the lifting of public health measures for COVID-19
• Regulations on the 2nd amendment to the regulations on quarantine and isolation and public health measures at the borders of Iceland due to COVID-19, No. 38 of 2022
• Regulations on gatherings signed on 29 January 2022
• School regulation signed on 29 January 2022