COVID-19 pandemic in Iceland

Infection Numbers Card.

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrably reached Iceland in February 2020. The cause of the disease is the pathogen SARS-CoV-2 . As of March 24, a total of 648 cases had been recorded, of which 56 have recovered. The first death was reported on March 21.

course

Origin of COVID-19 infections in Iceland a
Imported	Italy	42
	Austria	39
	Switzerland	9
	United States	6th
	Great Britain	2
	Denmark	1
	Indefinite Asia	1
	Unknown	195
	Totally imported	253
Communal		459
Indefinite b		90
Total		802
Remarks a until March 25, 2020 b Cases currently being traced

February

On February 28, Iceland confirmed the first case of COVID-19, an Icelandic man in his forties who had been on a ski tour in Andalo , northern Italy and who returned home on February 22; when he developed symptoms upon arrival, he was quarantined at Landspítali Hospital in Reykjavík . The National Commission of the Icelandic Police then declared a state of alert.

March

A second and a third case were confirmed on March 1, an Icelandic man in his fifties who had returned from Verona on February 29 , and a woman in her fifties who had returned from Italy via Munich .

Another six cases were confirmed on March 2, bringing the total to nine: five men and four women. All cases so far have been recorded in the Reykjavík area . Five of these cases have been traced back to Italy. In response, the Health Directorate has defined Italy as a risk area for the disease and anyone coming to Iceland from Italy is asked to put themselves in a 14-day home quarantine. The ninth case is that of an Icelander who was in Austria and flew home on March 1st. After further cases were traced back to the Austrian holiday resort of Ischgl , the health department defined Ischgl as a high-risk area. However, the authorities of the state of Tyrol in Austria claimed that the Ischgl returning from Ischgl were likely infected on their flight from Munich, but this is considered "very unlikely" by the Icelandic health authorities as this group had symptoms very soon after the flight showed.

On March 3, an official press release announced sanctions for those who violate the quarantine, including up to three months' imprisonment as it is viewed as deliberately spreading the virus.

On March 4th, Iceland’s chief epidemiologist Thorolfur Gudnason informed the Austrian federal authorities that his compatriots had been infected with the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in Ischgl and reported the epidemic in the European early warning and response system (EWRS) .

On March 5, about 400 people were in quarantine at home in Iceland and about 330 people were tested for the virus, but no cases of intra-community transmission have been detected. Of those who were tested for the virus, 35 were confirmed to be infected with the coronavirus , but officials warned that this number would rise if more test results were available in the next few days.

On March 6, the total number of people infected rose to 45, including the first 4 cases of local transmission of the virus. The Icelandic Ministry of Disaster Prevention and Emergency Management declared a disaster emergency phase within minutes of the official confirmation of the local transmission of the coronavirus .

On March 7, 5 more cases were confirmed: 3 cases of local transmission of the coronavirus and 2 from previously defined high-risk areas. All seven confirmed cases of local transmission are in the Reykjavík area. A total of 484 tests have been carried out so far.

As of March 8, the total rose to 58, with a total of 10 cases of local transmission. Three cases identified on March 8 involved Icelandic residents who returned to Iceland on a special flight from Verona on March 7; all passengers were Icelandic residents who had been in high risk areas and special precautions had already been taken to ensure that they were isolated from other passengers upon arrival at Keflavík International Airport.

On March 9th, two more passengers on the special flight from Verona on March 7th tested positive for the corona virus. Three cases of local transmission and two cases of Icelandic residents returning from ski resorts in the Alps were noted, bringing the total to 65.

On March 11, it was reported that a COVID-19 patient had developed more severe symptoms and was hospitalized, making him the first patient in Iceland to develop more than mild symptoms of the disease. Also on March 11, a total of 90 people were diagnosed with COVID-19, 700 were in quarantine.

On March 13, a press conference announced that universities and secondary schools would be closed from Monday, March 16, and that a ban on public gatherings of more than 100 people would come into effect on that day.

On March 15, it was reported that three COVID-19 patients in Iceland are now hospitalized, one of them in intensive care , and that a health clinic in the capital area (in Mosfellsbær ) has been closed after a worker tested positive for COVID-19 has been. A total of 171 cases were confirmed, most of which can be traced back to ski areas in the Alps. Chief epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason noted that half of all people in Iceland who tested positive for the coronavirus have already quarantined themselves (after either returning home from international trips or coming into contact with an infected person ), suggesting that quarantine and isolation measures in Iceland to control the outbreak have so far been effective. An estimated 2500 people are self-isolating, with the number increasing daily.

On March 17, the first COVID-19 death was confirmed, an Australian citizen in his 40s who was visiting Iceland with his wife. He sought medical help because of a serious illness and died shortly after arriving at the Húsavík Health Clinic. His symptoms were unusual and his condition worsened extremely quickly. With his family's permission, it was reported on March 19 that he had developed pneumonia and that COVID-19 was the likely cause of death.

On March 23rd, an Icelandic woman in her early 70s passed away after battling the disease for a week.

Preventive measures

On January 24th, the Directorate of Health announced preventive measures to curb the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Passengers arriving at Keflavík International Airport with signs of a respiratory infection and asymptomatic people who had been in Wuhan in the past 14 days were given medical examinations at the airport.

As of March 2, Icelandic health workers were asked to avoid travel and stay in the country.

As of March 16, no official spatial distancing measures or restrictions or bans on public gatherings were in effect. However, organizers have canceled or postponed a number of upcoming events, including the annual conference of the University of Iceland's School of Humanities , Hugvísindaþing, which should have been held on March 13-14.

At a press conference on March 13, it was announced that public gatherings of more than 100 people would be banned and universities and secondary schools would be closed for four weeks. Announcements were made later that day explaining or emphasizing that:

• so-called "hamster purchases" are unnecessary;
• there would probably be no shortage of food or medicine;
• Elementary schools and preschools would not be closed, although there were restrictions to maximize social distance within schools;
• all schools in the Reykjavík area would be closed on March 16 in preparation.

The Directorate of Health and the Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management have jointly set up an official website with the latest information in Icelandic and English.

On March 16, the Samkaup supermarket chain announced that 27 grocery stores across Iceland will have special shopping hours for vulnerable populations, including the elderly and people with chronic and underlying diseases. Starting March 17, select Nettó and Kjörbúðin stores would reserve the hour from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. for those customers who are most at risk of serious complications when contracting COVID-19.

Since March 18th, the whole world has been defined as a high risk area. All travel abroad is discouraged and residents of Iceland who are currently abroad are advised to return home as soon as possible. Residents of Iceland who come from abroad will now be quarantined.

On March 21, a stricter ban on public gatherings was imposed in Vestmannaeyjar . Meetings with more than 10 people are now prohibited there. An even stricter ban was announced in the Húnaþing vestra district , where all residents were ordered to stay at home, except to purchase essentials.

A nationwide ban on public gatherings over 20 people went into effect on March 24 at midnight. All swimming pools, museums, libraries and bars have been closed, as have all shops that require a proximity of more than two meters (hairdressers, tattooists, etc.).

Virus testing and quarantine

The Icelandic health authorities have used voluntary home quarantines for all residents returning from certain high-risk areas and virus testing as the main means of preventing transmission within the community. The Icelandic health authorities have tested a relatively high number of arriving passengers from high-risk areas for COVID-19 in the hope that early detection of infections will prevent their spread. The high number of infections identified therefore does not reflect the prevalence of COVID-19 in Iceland.

An early concern among Icelandic residents who were placed in home quarantine was workers' right to paid vacation while quarantined. On March 5, it was announced that the COVID-19 outbreak is likely to lead to legislative changes in the next few weeks.

People with symptoms of COVID-19 have been asked to refrain from visiting health centers and hospitals without prior notification to avoid exposing those at risk to the virus. Even mild symptoms of illness should be reported for further advice. In a hotel in Reykjavík, official quarantine facilities have been set up for healthy people who cannot be quarantined in their own country (e.g. foreigners). A Red Cross help hotline has been set up.

Initially, the COVID-19 tests for quarantined Icelandic residents were mainly carried out in their own homes. Due to the high level of testing required, it was decided to use mobile units parked outside the health clinics. A lack of testing had reduced the scope of COVID-19 testing in Iceland, making control and tracking efforts difficult. On March 22nd, it was announced that an order of 5,000 swabs, due to arrive the following week, had been reduced by 3,000 at short notice. The unexpected discovery of an additional 6,000 smears in a warehouse was announced on March 26, 2020.

statistics

Evolution of the epidemic

Confirmed infections (cumulative) in Iceland
according to data from the Ministry of Health

New infections in Iceland,
according to data from the Ministry of Health

Deaths (cumulative) in Iceland
according to data from the Ministry of Health

Confirmed deaths (daily) in Iceland
according to data from the Ministry of Health

See also

• List of epidemics and pandemics
• List of deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic

Web links

Commons : COVID-19 Pandemic in Iceland  - Pictures, Videos and Audio Files Collection

• covid.is - Information about COVID-19 in Iceland
• covid.hi.is - COVID-19 in Iceland
• landlæknir.is - the coronavirus 2019-nCoV
• RÚV.is - in focus: COVID-19
• mbl.is - the coronavirus COVID-19

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Fyrsta tilfelli COVID-19 greint á Íslandi ( is ) February 28, 2020.
2. ↑ Kom til landsins 22nd febrúar - veiktist hér á landi ( is ) 28th February 2020.
3. ↑ First Case of COVID-19 in Iceland ( en ) In: Almannavarnir . February 28, 2020. Accessed February 29, 2020.
4. ↑ Freyr Gígja Gunnarsson: Annar Íslendingur með COVID-19 veiruna ( is ) In: RÚV . March 1, 2020. Accessed March 1, 2020.
5. ↑ Þrjú ný COVID-19 tilfelli og níu smitaðir á Íslandi ( is ) March 2, 2020.
6. ↑ Press release. Coronavirus-COVID-19. 02.03.2020. ( en ) In: Icelandic Directorate of Health . March 2, 2020. Accessed March 3, 2020.
7. ↑ Sólveig Klara Ragnarsdóttir: Níundi smitaði Íslendingurinn hafði verið í Austurríki ( is ) In: RÚV . March 3, 2020. Accessed March 3, 2020.
8. ↑ Níundi smitaði Íslendingurinn hafði verið í Austurríki ( is ) March 3, 2020. Accessed March 3, 2020.
9. ↑ Coronavirus: Icelandic guests in the Tyrolean Oberland are likely to have contracted the coronavirus on their return flight on the plane . In: Land Tirol . March 5, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2020.
10. ↑ ^{a b} Tvö innanlandssmit og neyðarstigi lýst yfir ( is ) In: Vísir . March 6, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2020.
11. ↑ Andie Sophia Fontaine: COVID-19 In Iceland: 11 Confirmed Cases, Fines Or Prison Time For Leaving Quarantine . In: The Reykjavík Grapevine , March 3, 2020. Retrieved March 18, 2020. 
12. ↑ DER SPIEGEL: "Home of madness". Retrieved April 13, 2020 . 
13. ↑ COVID-19 smitin orðin 35 talsins ( is ) In: RÚV . March 5, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2020.
14. ↑ Inlandssmitum kórónuveiru fjölgar . March 6, 2020. Accessed March 7, 2020.
15. ↑ Neyðarstig almannavarna vegna COVID-19 . In: Almannavarnir (Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management) . March 6, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2020.
16. ^ Sólveig Klara Ragnarsdóttir: 5 ný smit greind í dag - þar af 3 innanlands . Retrieved March 7, 2020.
17. ↑ Brynjólfur Þór Guðmundsson: Sex til viðbótar greinast með COVID-19 . March 8, 2020. Accessed March 8, 2020.
18. ↑ Sólveig Klara Ragnarsdóttir: Þrír farþegar úr Veróna flightinu smitaðir af COVID-19 . The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). March 8, 2020.
19. ↑ Tveir til viðbótar úr Verónaflugi smitaðir ( is ) In: The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) . March 9, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2020.
20. ↑ Dagný Hulda Erlendsdóttir: Smitin á Íslandi Ordin 65 . March 9, 2020. Accessed March 9, 2020.
21. ↑ 90 greindir með COVID-19 - einn lagður inn á sjúkrahús . The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV). March 11, 2020. Accessed March 11, 2020.
22. ↑ Alma Ómarsdóttir: Enginn á sjúkrahúsi vegna COVID-19 . In: The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service (RÚV) . March 8, 2020. Accessed March 8, 2020.
23. ↑ Ingvar Þór Björnsson: Samkomubanni komið á og skólastarf takmarkað ( is ) In: RÚV . March 13, 2020. Accessed March 13, 2020.
24. ↑ Andri Yrkill Valsson: Einni heilsugæslu lokad - staðfestum smitum fjölgar ( is ) Retrieved on March 15, 2020th
25. ↑ Þórdís Arnljótsdóttir: Viljum bara að hrausta fólkið smitist ( is ) Retrieved March 15, 2020.
26. ↑ Alexander Elliott: If you infected this in Húsavík . Retrieved March 24, 2020.
27. ↑ Jelena Ćirić: Foreign Tourist With Coronavirus Dies in North Iceland ( en ) Retrieved on March 17, 2020.
28. ↑ Brynjólfur Þór Guðmundsson: Miklar líkur á að ferðamaðurinn hafi látist úr COVID-19 ( is ) March 19, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2020.
29. ↑ Sunna Valgerðardóttir: Liðlega sjötug kona látin af völdum COVID-19 ( is ) March 24, 2020. Accessed March 24, 2020.
30. ↑ What is being done in Iceland to curb the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) . Directorate of Health. January 24, 2020. Accessed February 3, 2020.
31. ↑ Biðlað til heilbrigðisstarfsmanna og annarra starfsmanna sem starfa við viðbúnað vegna COVID-19 um að bíða með ferðalög erlendis ( is ) In: Icelandic Directorate of Health . March 2, 2020. Accessed March 3, 2020.
32. ↑ Questions and answers regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19) ( is ) In: Embætti Landlæknis: Icelandic Directorate of Health . Retrieved March 9, 2020.
33. ↑ Hugvísindaþing 2020 . Retrieved March 9, 2020.
34. ↑ Upplýsingafundur Almannavarna um COVID-19 ( is ) Retrieved on March 13, 2020.
35. ↑ Jóhann Bjarni Kolbeinsson: Hvorki grunnskóli né à leikskóli mánudaginn . In: RÚV . Retrieved March 13, 2020.
36. ↑ Official information about COVID-19 in Iceland. Retrieved March 28, 2020 (Icelandic). 
37. ↑ Birgir Þór Harðarson: Sérstakar verslanir fyrir eldri borgara og viðkvæma ( is ) Retrieved on March 16, 2020.
38. ↑ Útvíkkun áhættusvæða vegna COVID-19 . Embætti landlæknis. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
39. ↑ Fjöldasamkomu með fleiri en tíu bannaðar í Eyjum . Retrieved March 21, 2020. 
40. ↑ Spurt og svarað ( is ) March 22, 2020. Accessed March 23, 2020.
41. ↑ Alma Ómarsdóttir: Hert samkomubann: Ekki fleiri en 20 mega koma saman . Retrieved March 23, 2020.
42. ↑ Information for travelers - Coronavirus COVID-19 . Landlaeknir.is (February 24, 2020). Retrieved on 2020-03-06.
43. ↑ Samkomulag um launagreiðslur til fólks í sóttkví ( is ) In: RÚV . March 5, 2020. Accessed March 6, 2020.
44. ↑ Questions and answers regarding novel coronavirus (COVID-19) . Landlaeknir.is (February 27, 2020). Retrieved on 2020-03-06.
45. ↑ Freyr Gunnarsson Gígja: Pinnasending til Íslands Skorin niður to 3,000 . Retrieved March 23, 2020.
46. ↑ Erla María Markúsdóttir: Fundu óvæntan lager með sex þúsund pinnum (is) . In: Morgunblaðið , March 26, 2020. Retrieved March 27, 2020. 
47. ↑ ^{a b c d} COVID-19 in Iceland - Statistics. Embætti landlæknis, accessed June 18, 2020 (Icelandic).