About 500 New COVID-19 Cases in Iceland
Standing in line to be tested for COVID-19. mbl.is/Eggert Jóhannesson
More than 500 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Iceland yesterday, mbl.is reports, quoting Kári Stefánsson, CEO of deCode Genetics. The exact figures for yesterday will be posted on covid.is by 11 am. [UPDATE: The exact number of new confirmed cases turned out be 494, according to covid.is.]
Kári states that deCode Genetics received 518 samples this morning for sequence analysis. Those are samples from domestic tests as well as ones conducted at the border. No information is available yet regarding how many there are of each.
This is an increase of 200 cases from the day before, when they numbered 318, or a 63 percent increase.
The result of the sequence analysis should be available shortly after noon. The ratio of the Omicron variant has been increasing in recent days. On Sunday, Omicron cases represented 30 percent of new cases, 50 percent on Monday, and 70 percent on Tuesday.
Kári states he wouldn’t be surprised if the ratio is considerably higher today.
Stricter disease prevention rules took effect in Iceland at midnight. A maximum of 20 people are now allowed to gather. Still, for tonight only, the minister of health has granted restaurants an exemption from the rule, permitting them to receive 50 guests in each space instead of 20.
The new restrictions allow restaurants and bars to receive guests until 9 pm. All guests must have left the premises by 10 pm.
To view all the current restrictions, see here.
