Likely Violators of Quarantine Rules Can Be Denied Entry
Chief Superintendent Víðir Reynisson. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
New work procedures took effect in Iceland Friday, allowing police officers to turn back travelers who are unlikely to follow quarantine rules, should they opt for quarantine instead of being tested for the novel coronavirus upon entry to the country, Morgunblaðið reports.
Chief Superintendent Víðir Reynisson welcomes the new rules: “The main change this brings,” he tells Morgunblaðið, “is that upon arrival, police have the authority to deny people entry to the country, if we deem these people likely to violate quarantine rules.”
The new rules were enacted after the Suðurnes Police Department requested the deportation of a man thought unlikely to comply with disease prevention regulations. The individual in question ended up returning to his home country of his own free will.
Two foreign nationals, who arrived in the country early last week and failed to follow quarantine rules, tested positive for the novel coronavirus after being arrested by police on suspicion of theft and burglary. As we reported yesterday, that resulted in 16 police officers having to be quarantined. The two suspects, along with other people from their group are currently quarantined at Foss Hóel Lind, Reykjavík.
The Ministry of Justice ruled Friday that in cases where quarantine rules are violated, police have the authority to deport people. New work procedures were subsequently adopted by police. There have been cases where travelers do not stay in quarantine at the accommodation they have reported and, thus, violate quarantine rules.
Víðir tells Morgunblaðið that dozens of police officers and healthcare workers have been involved in solving the case of the foreign nationals suspected of theft and found to be infected with the novel coronavirus.
The police team that traces transmissions is still working on the case, he states, and three people believed to have violated quarantine rules have yet to be tracked down.
According to mbl.is, attorneys for the chief epidemiologist are looking into whether authorities have the option of deporting those among the group believed to have violated quarantine rules who did not test positive for the virus. They arrived in the country before the new rules went into effect.
