The Icelandic government has announced a ban on gatherings of 20 people or more, starting Tuesday 24 March 2020.

These measures are put in place to halt the spread of COVID-19 infections in Iceland, following recommendations from the Chief Epidemiologist to Svandís Svavarsdóttir Icelands‘s Minister of Health. The advice of the Chief Epidemiologist to the Minister of Health has been to focus the response in Iceland on the swift diagnosis of COVID-19 cases.

The ban is in force until 12 April 2020. The changes today modify the previous 100-person limit, in place since 16 March 2020. Further, people must ensure that they keep a distance of at least two (2) meters between individuals.

This ban does not affect international airports, ports, airplanes or ships. Infection control measures will be taken in all these places to reduce the possibility of infection.