Iceland has announced it is going to open its borders to travellers by June 15, with the Nordic nation having had success in containing coronavirus.
So far Iceland has only recorded 1,804 cases of the virus with 10 deaths. At present there are only 2 active cases within the country.
Iceland’s Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir has now confirmed its intent to loosen travel restrictions, which have been in place since March 20.
Entry to the country won’t be without conditions though, all visitors will need to take a free COVID-19 test upon arrival.
After being screened at the airport, passengers arriving in Iceland will go to their overnight accommodation where they await their results
Everyone entering the country will be asked to download Iceland’s contact tracing app – much like Australia’s tracing app – which tracks movements and helps the government inform those who may have come into contact with an infected person.
Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Innovation, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir said as travellers return to Iceland we want to have all mechanisms in place to safeguard them and the progress made in controlling the pandemic.
Iceland’s strategy of large-scale testing, tracing and isolating has proven effective so far. We want to build on that experience of creating a safe place for those who want a change of scenery after what has been a tough spring for all of us”
Iceland’s Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Innovation, Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir