One Guest at Reykjavík Natura – ‘Country’s Largest Mansion’

Chief Superintendent Víðir Reynisson remains the only guest at Icelandair Hotel Reykjavík Natura, located near Reykjavík Airport, which has been temporarily closed.

Víðir, who has become nationally known in recent weeks for being one of three people in command of operations when it comes to fighting the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, had to move to a hotel last week after his wife and daughter were quarantined due to the virus.

When the hotel closed temporarily yesterday, Víðir was told he was welcome to stay on. Icelandair closed two other hotels yesterday, bringing the total number of the airline ’s recently closed hotels to five.

In Víðir ’s words, he is living “in the country’s largest mansion.” The hotel is located a short distance from his workplace – the coordinating center for the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management in Skógarhlíð.

Aside from Víðir, the only people left at the hotel are the building ’s security guards.

Víðir is pleased with being able to remain at the hotel. Sunday night, he had urged the nation to take a break from the virus for an hour, by talking or thinking about other things from 8 to 9 pm. He tried to do the same and succeeded, aside from one work-related phone call.