Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: https://www.icelandreview.com/socie...ere-nearing-the-limits-of-our-infrastructure/
COVID-19 in Iceland: “We’re nearing the limits of our infrastructure”
Jelena Ćirić
August 5, 2021
A heavy mood characterised the COVID-19 briefing held by Icelandic authorities in Reykjavík today. Director of Civil Protection Víðir Reynisson stated the growing number of infections is pushing infrastructure close to its limit. According to Deputy Chief Epidemiologist Kamilla S. Jósefsdóttir, if the rate of infection continues to grow, contact tracing will become impossible, which will only further boost the spread of infection and increase the likelihood that the COVID-19 ward will have to turn away patients in need.
Iceland has two tasks on its hands: to plan how it will deal with the pandemic in the long term and to curb the current wave of infection, Director of the National University Hospital Páll Matthíasson stated at the briefing. All three panel members agreed on the need for continued solidarity, stating that a collapse of the healthcare system would have not only short-term but also long-term effects on Icelandic society.
The following is a lightly-edited transcription of Iceland Review’s live-tweeting of the briefing.
On the panel: Deputy Chief Epidemiologist Kamilla S. Jósefsdóttir and Director of Civil Protection Víðir Reynisson. Director of the National University Hospital Páll Matthíasson will also be present at the briefing to discuss the situation at the hospital in light of the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.
Iceland is now labelled red in the weekly COVID-19 travel map issued by the ECDC today. This affects travel and quarantine regulations in many European countries for those arriving from Iceland.
Yesterday’s numbers have been updated on covid.is. Iceland reported 151 new domestic cases (68 in quarantine) and 3 at the border. Total active cases: 1,388. 18 are in hospital. Fully vaccinated: 68.85% of population. 55 of yesterday’s 151 domestic cases of COVID-19 were among unvaccinated people, the highest number since the current wave began in mid-July...
COVID-19 in Iceland: “We’re nearing the limits of our infrastructure”
Jelena Ćirić
August 5, 2021
A heavy mood characterised the COVID-19 briefing held by Icelandic authorities in Reykjavík today. Director of Civil Protection Víðir Reynisson stated the growing number of infections is pushing infrastructure close to its limit. According to Deputy Chief Epidemiologist Kamilla S. Jósefsdóttir, if the rate of infection continues to grow, contact tracing will become impossible, which will only further boost the spread of infection and increase the likelihood that the COVID-19 ward will have to turn away patients in need.
Iceland has two tasks on its hands: to plan how it will deal with the pandemic in the long term and to curb the current wave of infection, Director of the National University Hospital Páll Matthíasson stated at the briefing. All three panel members agreed on the need for continued solidarity, stating that a collapse of the healthcare system would have not only short-term but also long-term effects on Icelandic society.
The following is a lightly-edited transcription of Iceland Review’s live-tweeting of the briefing.
On the panel: Deputy Chief Epidemiologist Kamilla S. Jósefsdóttir and Director of Civil Protection Víðir Reynisson. Director of the National University Hospital Páll Matthíasson will also be present at the briefing to discuss the situation at the hospital in light of the rise in COVID-19 cases and hospitalisations.
Iceland is now labelled red in the weekly COVID-19 travel map issued by the ECDC today. This affects travel and quarantine regulations in many European countries for those arriving from Iceland.
Yesterday’s numbers have been updated on covid.is. Iceland reported 151 new domestic cases (68 in quarantine) and 3 at the border. Total active cases: 1,388. 18 are in hospital. Fully vaccinated: 68.85% of population. 55 of yesterday’s 151 domestic cases of COVID-19 were among unvaccinated people, the highest number since the current wave began in mid-July...