The coronavirus pandemic has surged worldwide and Iceland has also suffered from the disease. The infection rate of Coronavirus in Iceland is roughly 22 times greater than Australia’s. It now has the world’s highest rate of confirmed coronavirus cases that continue to spread due to its weather conditions.
Research has proven that heat and humidity can play a possible role in decreasing the effects of coronavirus in Iceland. But the sun’s UV rays seem to play a larger role in the rate of spread of COVID-19. Because Iceland is so far up north, having a latitude of 64.1 and its mainland only a few degrees south of the Arctic Circle – the mainland receives only a few hours of sunlight even during which the UV rays are not strong enough. Iceland gets almost no ultraviolet radiation during the winter.
Iceland’s case detection is probably the most complete of any country over the globe which explains its high per capita cases. The predictions about coronavirus in Iceland have changed drastically since March 19 due to the exponential growth of the pandemic. The number of cases registered has almost doubled since then.
How Coronavirus cases increased?
- On February 20, Coronavirus in Iceland was first confirmed in an Icelandic male nearly in his 40’s who had been on a trip to Italy and returned on February 22. Post developing symptoms after his arrival, he was quarantined in a hospital in Reykjavík. After this, the National Commission of the Icelandic Police declared an alert phase throughout the country.
- On March 1, a 2nd and a 3rd case were confirmed in an Icelandic male and female each returning from Verona and Italy.
- On March 2, an additional two cases were confirmed that brought the total to nine, 5 men and 4 women. Five of whose diseases were traced back to Italy in response to the directorate of health defined Italy as a risk area and everyone arriving from Italy to Iceland was asked to go into a four-day home quarantine.
- After a week, on March 9, two additional passengers flying from Verona were tested positive for COVID-19. Three cases of local transmission were identified and two cases of Icelandic returning from Ski areas in the Alps were also diagnosed positive for coronavirus in Iceland; bringing the total to 65.
- As of March 8, no COVID-19 patients were sick enough to require proper medical hospitalization. However, on March 11, a patient developed more severe symptoms and was admitted to a hospital, thus becoming the first patient in Iceland to develop or show severe symptoms of the disease. Also, on March 11, 90 people in total were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 700 were put under strict quarantine.
- On March 13, all universities and secondary schools were closed and all public gatherings of over a hundred were banned. An estimated 2500 people were on self-isolation by this time with the number going up every day.
- First coronavirus death was confirmed in Iceland on March 17 of an Australian citizen around his forties who was just a visitor in Iceland. From March 2, the Icelandic government encouraged healthcare workers to avoid travel and stay in the country.
- On March 16, the supermarket chain, Samkaup announced the opening of 27 grocery stores across Iceland with a special shopping time for vulnerable members of the society including elders and those suffering from any illnesses.
- As of March 18, the whole world was put under a high-risk zone. All travel abroad was discouraged and residents of Iceland currently abroad were asked to return as soon as possible. They were directly put into quarantine.
- On March 21, a stricter ban was put on public assemblies and groups of more than 10 people were prohibited.
- A nationwide ban on public assemblies over twenty came into place. All museums, libraries, swimming pools and any other businesses requiring a space of more than 2 meters were completely banned. Icelandic health officials voluntarily promoted home-based quarantines for all residents returning from high-risk areas. Virus testing was done for each of them to prevent transmission within the territory.
The total number of cases of coronavirus in Iceland is 1086 by now. Know the recent coronavirus updates here. The high number of infections diagnosed throughout the country do not reflect the prevalence of coronavirus in Iceland since the medical facilities offered by the professionals of Iceland worked out in place and we can say that Iceland may be a country which is somehow battling with the deadly virus.
Until this coronavirus phase gets over, please stay safe and inside. We will love to have you back in Iceland again. Till then, select your favourite private tours among these.
