All COVID-19 Restrictions to Be Lifted in Iceland Friday
PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir and Minister of Health Willum Þór Þórsson, announcing the lifting of all restrictions. mbl.is/Kristinn Magnússon
All COVID-19 restrictions in Iceland will be lifted Friday morning — domestically, as well as at the border, mbl.is reports.
That was revealed by Minister of Health Willum Þór Þórsson and PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir, following a government meeting today.
The decision was made unanimously by government members and in accordance with the suggestions of the chief epidemiologist, who presented the government with three different scenarios.
The main reasoning behind the decision to lift restrictions is that that the pandemic is so widespread that restrictions do not seem to suffice to limit its spread. In addition, there are indications that many more have caught the disease than public records confirm.
The virus, though, is by no means gone, and authorities suggest that those who are ill stay at home. Besides, caution should be exercised around those who are at risk of developing serious illness from COVID-19.
Katrín won’t rule out that if need be, restrictions will be implemented again.
Earlier today, the chief epidemiologist issued a statement, saying that all public PCR testing will be ceased in favor of rapid antigen tests. A positive result from a rapid test will suffice to confirm a COVID-19 infection. Those diagnosed will not be required to isolate, although isolation is recommended.
