Extra Test Required for Travelers with Ties to Iceland
From Keflavík International Airport. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
Starting today, COVID-19 vaccinated travelers who live in Iceland or who have connections to Iceland must be tested for COVID-19 within 48 hours of arriving in the country, mbl.is reports.
Just like other travelers arriving in Iceland, they must present certificates of negative COVID test results prior to boarding a flight to Iceland.
The rule requiring a test after arriving in the country applies to citizens of Iceland, people who reside in Iceland, as well as to those who have a work permit in Iceland, or have applied for either a work permit or international protection in Iceland.
According to a statement on the government website,
“These passengers will not be required to enter into quarantine until after the results of the testing are available. These individuals are expected to either undergo a rapid antigen test or a PCR test, but further arrangements will be made in cooperation with the Chief Epidemiologist. It will be possible to undergo testing either at the border or at a testing location within these time limits and the testing will be free of charge. Individuals who do not undergo testing within the given time limit can be fined.
“According to information from the Chief Epidemiologist’s Office, around 90 percent of the individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since July 1 have an Icelandic personal identification number. This decision has been made in light of the importance of ensuring defences against new variants of the virus. The requirement to submit a negative COVID test at the border will continue to apply, since double testing at an interval of a few days has proven to be helpful during this pandemic.
“Further arrangements for the implementation of this plan will be made in the days to follow, including a request to the Chief Epidemiologist to assess which groups these measures should be limited to.”
Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers will continue to be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in the country, after which they must spend five days in quarantine and then be tested again.
