Statement - In light of the Reykjavik District Court’s decision regarding an obligation for quarantining at a quarantine facility:
In light of the Reykjavik District Court’s decision regarding the Chief Epidemiologist’s requirement regarding an obligation for quarantining at a quarantine facility, the Chief Epidemiologist and the Ministry of Health wish to issue the following statement:
The Reykjavik District court has ruled that the provision of Article 5 of Regulation 355/2021 regarding the obligation for passengers arriving from high-risk areas to undergo quarantine at a quarantine hotel lacks a legal basis. The Ministry of Health and the Chief Epidemiologist are now reviewing the ruling. As things currently stand, the response to the ruling will be to inform those who are currently staying in quarantine hotels that they are free to finish their quarantine elsewhere if they have access to a suitable facility. However, the epidemiological authorities wish to respectfully ask those who are in quarantine at quarantine hotels to finish their quarantine there, since this is the best way to limit the spread of Covid-19.
The Minister of Health will now, in cooperation with the Chief Epidemiologist, look into ways to limit the risk of bringing infections into the country. These responses will be announced in the days to come.