Non-essential shops closure: Partially closed
Restrictive measures mandatory between 31 October 2020 to 17 November 2020
The Minister of Health has approved proposals regarding tighter measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which took effect on 31 October 2020 until 17 November (including that date); they will be reviewed in the light of developments with a view to whether it will be possible to relax them earlier or necessary to extend the period for a longer period. The same rules will apply throughout Iceland.
- Not more than 50 persons at a time are permitted inside pharmacies and food shops; arrangements for larger numbers apply in some cases, depending on the size of the premises.
- Sporting activities are not permitted.
- Swimming pools are closed.
- Stage performances are not permitted.
- Bars and night-clubs are closed.
- Restaurants with alcoholic beverage licences may not remain open after 9 p.m. (21.00).
UPDATE 7 October: the Minister of Health has accepted the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist for stricter limits on the size of gatherings in the metropolitan area. These take effect on 7 October 2020. The restrictions announced on 5 October remain unchanged in other parts of the country. The restrictions announced here will remain in force until 19 October. The metropolitan area includes: Reykjavík, Seltjarnarnesbær, Mosfellsbær, Kjósarhreppur, Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður, Garðabær and Kópavogur. The following stricter restrictions were decided for metropolitan areas:
- Services requiring physical contact or close proximity: Activities and services that call for physical contact, or involve the risk of contact between persons, or close physical proximity, are prohibited. This applies, for example, to hairdressers’ salons, beauty parlours, massage parlours, tattoo parlours and other comparable activities. These restrictions do not apply regarding health service workers when giving their services; however, they are required to use face-masks when doing so.
- Shops: Where it is not possible to ensure a social distance of 2 metres between persons who are not closely related or connected, the use of face-masks in shops is obligatory.
- Swimming pools and bathing establishments: Swimming pools and bathing establishments are closed.
- Indoor sports and physical fitness activities are prohibited. Fitness training, body-building, sports and comparable activities that involve physical contact or the risk of physical contact, or close proximity, or where the shared use of equipment could entail a risk of infection, may not be pursued indoors.
- Outdoor sports: Outdoor sporting activities are permitted, but spectators at outdoor sporting events must be divided into separate groups of not more than 20 persons. They must wear face-masks and sit in numbered seats.
- Performing arts: Audiences at performances in venues such as theatres, cinemas, concerts, etc., may not consist of more than 20 persons. They must wear face-masks and sit in numbered seats.
- Restaurants: Restaurants that are permitted to open (NB bars and night-clubs are to be closed) may not remain open after 9 p.m. (21.00).
UPDATE October: the Minister of Health has approved a proposal from the Chief Epidemiologist obliging all premises with alcoholic beverage licences to provide seats for all guests, and guests normally to be seated as is the case in restaurants and cafes. A regulation setting this out took effect on Monday, 28 September 2020; as of the same date, the temporary closure of bars and night-clubs in the metropolitan area were lifted, though with the condition that such enterprises observe the seating requirement. In accordance with the Chief Epidemiologist’s recommendations, the other restrictions on gatherings have been extended without amendment for the next three weeks, until and including 18 October.
UPDATE September: Temporary closure of bars and night-clubs in metropolitan area. The Minister of Health has approved a proposal by the Chief Epidemiologist to close bars and night-clubs in Reykjavík and adjacent municipalities for four days, from 18 to 21 September 2020 in an effort to combat the upsurge of COVID-19 infections. On the 21 September, this measure was extended until 27 September. As previously, the closure affects bars and night-clubs in Reykjavík, Mosfellsbær, Hafnarfjörður, Garðabær, Kópavogur, Kjósarhreppur and Seltjarnarnes.
UPDATE August: all businesses and establishments open to the public must (i) ensure access to hand sanitizers for the general public and employees at the entrance and in the vicinity of surfaces that are frequently touched, e.g. touch screens and checkout counters (ii) ensure that frequently touched surfaces are regularly cleaned and disinfected (iii) remind the public and employees of individual protection with markers and signs. Swimming pools and restaurants must ensure social distancing of 2 meters between guests and a number limit of guests in accordance with the size of each space. Activities that by their nature involve guests using common equipment, e.g. sports activities, fitness centers, slots and arcades shall disinfect such equipment between users or close close temporarily if that is not possible.
Museums, entertainment venues and other public places must ensure social distancing of 2 meters and comply with number limits or close temporarily if that is not possible. The opening hours of nightclubs and bars will continue until 23:00.
UPDATE July: the new restrictions reimpose a 100-person limit of larger gatherings and reinstate the 2-meter social distancing rule. This applies to all businesses, workplaces, and public establishments. Where the 2-meter rule cannot be respected masks should be used, such as on domestic flights and ferries, in hair salons, massage parlours and other personal service establishments. All businesses and establishments open to the public must provide hand sanitizers, regularly clean, and disinfect the premises and equipment. Museums, clubs, and other establishments open to the public, where the 2-meter rule cannot be maintained, should temporarily halt their operations. Bars and restaurants must close by 11 PM as before.
Events stop: Partially banned
Restrictive measures mandatory between 31 October 2020 to 17 November 2020
The Minister of Health has approved proposals regarding tighter measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, which took effect on 31 October 2020 until 17 November (including that date); they will be reviewed in the light of developments with a view to whether it will be possible to relax them earlier or necessary to extend the period for a longer period. The same rules will apply throughout Iceland. As a general rule, gatherings are restricted in size to 10 persons. Up to 30 persons may attend funeral services, but no more than 10 in the receptions following them. The 10-person restriction on gatherings does not apply to larger numbers of persons living in the same household.
UPDATE 7 October: the Minister of Health has accepted the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist for stricter limits on the size of gatherings in the metropolitan area. These take effect on 7 October 2020. The restrictions announced on 5 October remain unchanged in other parts of the country. The restrictions announced here will remain in force until 19 October. The metropolitan area includes: Reykjavík, Seltjarnarnesbær, Mosfellsbær, Kjósarhreppur, Hafnarfjarðarkaupstaður, Garðabær and Kópavogur.
UPDATE October: there is a 20-person limit on the number of adults in a gathering, both in private and public areas. This applies to: conferences, symposiums, outdoor meeting, etc.; teaching lectures and exams; entertainment, such as concerts, cultural events, theatrical plays, cinema shows, sports competitions and private events; church services, such as wedding, confirmations and other religious events; other comparable events with more than 20 individuals.
Limits to the number of people, general social distancing and the obligation to wear a mask do not apply to children born 2005 or later. No more than 20 persons may be in the same area at the same time in all workplaces and all commercial operations. There should be no contact (mixing) between areas.
Shops that are larger than 1,000 m2 may have up to 100 persons inside at anytime provided that the 1-metre social distancing rule can be held. Those shops that are larger than 1,000 square metres (m2) in size may allow one additional customer inside for each 10 m2 over and above 1,000 m2.The maximum number of customers, however, is always 200.
Up to 50 persons may attend funerals.
Restrictions on the number of people do not apply to public transport, coach travel, domestic flights, passenger ferries and the work of response units such as the police, fire-fighters, Civil Protection assistants and healthcare workers. In addition, the provision does not apply to the work of the Alþingi (Parliament)and when the courts exercise their judicial powers.
UPDATE September: the ‘social distancing’ rule was relaxed from 2 metres to 1 metre and the maximum size of gatherings increased from 100 to 200 people on Monday, 7 September 2020.
UPDATE August: 100-person limit of larger gatherings. Children born 2005 or later are not included in this number. The ban does not apply to international airports, international harbours, aircraft, or ships. It is recommended that aggressive hygiene measures be taken and that operators take every possible precaution so as to reduce the potential for infection. The opening hours of nightclubs and bars will continue until 23:00.
UPDATE July: the new restrictions reimpose a 100-person limit of larger gatherings and reinstate the 2-meter social distancing rule. This applies to all businesses, workplaces, and public establishments. Where the 2-meter rule cannot be respected masks should be used, such as on domestic flights and ferries, in hair salons, massage parlours and other personal service establishments. All businesses and establishments open to the public must provide hand sanitizers, regularly clean, and disinfect the premises and equipment. Museums, clubs, and other establishments open to the public, where the 2-meter rule cannot be maintained, should temporarily halt their operations. Bars and restaurants must close by 11 PM as before.