First European country to lift all domestic COVID-19 restriction

First European country to lift all domestic COVID-19 restrictions

Iceland is the first country in Europe to achieve this milestone in the ongoing battle against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recently, Iceland became the first country in Europe to remove all restrictions related to COVID-19 from June 26. Previous restrictive measures, including the wearing of masks, restrictions on gatherings and hours of service have been lifted after the country recorded 87% of the adult population had received at least one dose of the vaccine. apply, in parallel with 60% of the population who have been fully immunized.

So far, the country's vaccination program and guiding principles for testing, tracing, quarantine and isolation are considered successful. Icelandic Minister of Health Svandís Svavarsdóttir said: “Continuous and honest communication between the people and our trusted scientists has greatly contributed to the willingness of the people to participate in it. efforts to reduce the impact of the pandemic”.

Ms. Svavarsdóttir also shared: The work of maintaining an appropriate level of vigilance is always focused, and the risks are not minimized or exaggerated. Our success is due to the belief in the good sense of the Icelandic people.”

From July 1, Iceland will further relax restrictions at the border. Travelers presenting an approved paper or digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate from any country will now be exempt from official border restrictions. This group of subjects will also not be required to undergo a test or test to prove that their body is negative for the virus when they arrive in Iceland.

Children under the age of 16 and travelers who can present proof of their recovery from COVID-19 (via a health certificate) are also free to enter the country without the need to submit test results. negative for COVID-19, nor is it necessary to undergo testing or quarantine. Meanwhile, unvaccinated travelers will still have to undergo a 5-day screening and quarantine process upon entry.

Iceland's head of Civil Protection, Víðir Reynisson, said: “We fully envisage that there will continue to be cases and small clusters of infection may still emerge. However, we are confident that our ability to track and trace contacts, combined with compliance with both isolation and quarantine requirements of the population will be enough to handle any new outbreak. ".

Detailed information on Iceland's vaccinations, quarantines and entry regulations is now available from the official government website.