What is Not Allowed While in Quarantine?

Starting Wednesday, August 19, visitors to Iceland from all countries will be required to be tested for the coronavirus at the border, followed by four to five days in quarantine and, after that, a second test. See the press release here.

But while in quarantine, how restricted are your movements?

The rules are detailed on the website of the Directorate of Health. 

The main points are as follows:

A person in quarantine should stay at his or her accommodation and have contact with as few people as possible.

Use of mobile accommodations, such as a tent or camper van or similar is not allowed due to the requirement for private hygiene facilities and travel restrictions inherent in quarantine.

Group accommodations are prohibited during quarantine (hostels, hiking lodges, fishing lodges etc.).

Guesthouses and home-based accommodations offered for use by individuals in quarantine must offer private hygiene facilities for each unit in use for quarantine and those in quarantine in such accommodations may not use any shared spaces, such as lounges, kitchens etc.

Quarantined individuals may leave their base of quarantine to seek necessary health care services, after consulting with a primary care clinic, on-call service 1700 (+354 544 4113) or emergency services 112.

Quarantined individuals must not use public transport but they may use taxis, rental cars or private cars when leaving the base of quarantine is necessary.

Quarantined individual must not attend any gatherings, for work, family or social life.

Quarantined individuals must not visit restaurants, bars, fitness centers, swimming pools, theaters, cinemas, shopping malls, or other places where people come together. Quarantined individuals must not stay in shared condominium space, i.e. stairwell, laundry rooms, or shared yards/outdoor areas.

Quarantined individuals can go for a walk but need to keep at least 2-meter distance from other pedestrians and must not visit national monuments, museums and other popular tourist destinations and popular public outdoor areas, including city and town centers.

Quarantined individuals can go for a drive using a private car but must not interact with others in close proximity, e.g. at drive-through restaurants. Sight-seeing is not permitted and driving long distances (for example between towns) is not permitted except upon arrival, when it may be necessary to travel to a base of quarantine remote from the point of entry into Iceland.

To view the restrictions in detail, please visit the website of the Directorate of Health.