Words by
Andie Sophia Fontaine
Photo by
CDC/Dr. Fred Murphy
A specially-sanitised flight which retrieved another group of Icelanders from Verona, Italy returned to Iceland last Saturday. Of those within the group, three have been confirmed to have COVID-19, RÚV reports.
https://grapevine.is/news/2020...
As such, there are now 58 confirmed cases in Iceland, almost all of them from an initial group of Icelanders who had returned from northern Italy and Austria. Ten of the confirmed cases were found in the general population, but they were all traced back to these original passengers. This includes a taxi driver who had driven some of these returning passengers from the airport.
In related news, deCODE will begin screening the general population for COVID-19 within the general population, in conjunction with the Directorate of Health. This screening is to begin next week, and will help determine how widespread the virus is.
The Directorate of Health in fact has extensive information in English on COVID-19, including a handy FAQ.
To prevent transmission or contact with the virus, the cardinal rule is to wash your hands frequently before eating and after touching common surfaces, and avoid touching your face. If you must sneeze or cough, do so into the crook of your elbow or into a tissue. It also naturally follows that you should avoid contact with sick people.
If you are worried you may have COVID-19, have been to any of the high-risk areas or in contact with anyone who has within the last 14 days, you are urged to call 1700 from an Icelandic phone number or +354 544 4113 from any other phone, where a health care professional will give you further information and guidance.
