New Covid-19 Border Testing Regulations in Iceland
As per Monday, Iceland was reporting a 14- day incidence of 429.0 domestic infections per 100,000 people, and 5.7 cases per 100,000 people at the border. (Photo: Þorkell / Landspítalinn)
From 16 August onwards, vaccinated passengers with ties to Iceland must undergo testing within 48 hours of arrival in Iceland.
The new regulation will apply to fully vaccinated travelers who have ties to Iceland. These travelers will now be required to undergo a COVID-19 test with 48 hours of arriving in the country.
“This decision has been made in light of the importance of ensuring defenses against new variants of the virus,” the government said in a news release on Monday.
Individuals with ties to Iceland are:
- Icelandic citizens
- Individuals domiciled in Iceland
- Individuals who have an Icelandic work permit
- Applicants for a work permit or international protection in Iceland
According to information from the Chief Epidemiologist’s Office, some 90 percent of the individuals who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since July 1 have an Icelandic personal identification number. This decision has been made in light of the importance of ensuring defences against new variants of the virus. The requirement to submit a negative COVID test at the border will continue to apply, since double-testing at an interval of a few days has proven to be helpful during the pandemic.
