Iceland is lifting all COVID-19 restrictions - what does that mean for visitors?

Iceland will begin lifting COVID-19 restrictions on February 25, including the requirement for travelers to isolate upon arrival or test negative to enter.

"All official epidemiological measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic will be lifted, both domestically and at the border," Iceland's health ministry said in a press release on Wednesday.

"This eliminates all rules on restrictions on gatherings and schooling, as well as the requirement for isolation of those infected with COVID-19."

Furthermore, starting March 1, all COVID-19 border restrictions will be lifted. That means means travelers no longer have to present a pre-departute COVID-19 test, show their vaccination status or quarantine upon arrival. Unvaccinated travelers are also permitted to visit for the first time since October 2021.

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Previously, all travelers were required to show proof of full vaccination or a certificate of recovery to enter Iceland, in addition to a negative test result.

The move to lift all public restrictions comes as Iceland records a significant decline in coronavirus-related hospitalizations and moves closer towards its goal of reaching an 80% vaccination rate by the end of March.

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"We can certainly be happy at this juncture, but I still urge people to be careful, take care of personal infection control and take a break if they experience symptoms," said Willum Þór Þórsson, Iceland’s health minister.

Iceland joins several other European countries such as Denmark, England, and Ireland, in lifting restrictions. Italy this week announced it would end its state of emergency on March 31 and start to ease COVID-19 rules, while Portugal is expected to announce a similar lifting of restrictions in the coming days.

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