Iceland opening to tourists June 15

Wow! That has me thinking...

In addition to the article that Frank ll referenced, I also listened to the Amanpour interview yesterday that pretty much mirrors the previous article.

I have been following Iceland’s approach to the virus since January. I have been impressed with Prime Minister Jakobsdóttir’s proactive “presumptive steps” with testing for symptomatic and asymptomatic cases and physical distancing from the beginning. She mentioned in the interview that “they will continue to evaluate each step, keeping in mind they might get a relapse.”

The CNN interview can be found at “How Iceland beat COVID-19.“ In the previous article I am not clear what was meant by “recent” negative testing. I too, will be watching going forward. I will hope for the best.

Iceland was very active in fighting the virus from the beginning. They even took over a hotel for people who needed to quarantine but couldn't do so on their own. This included tourists.

I believe Austria is either now or is soon going to offer testing at the airport as well. This may be a good way of controlling new cases.

In these two countries, when people get sick they go to the doctor. They cooperate together and get tested.

I hope this doesn’t backfire on them and for those who just have to rush to go somewhere, anywhere!

I'm also curious about how 'recent' a negative test result has to be. It's my understanding that you can test negative one day and then become infected the next day if you're exposed to the virus. I'm not sure how trustworthy a one-time negative result actually is.

I personally think the countries requiring a 14 day quarantine have the right approach, as inconvenient as that may be.

As much as I'm raring to travel again, I'm not doing it at the surrender of my personal liberties. Contact tracing app? Forget it. And where do my test results "go," and who has access to that information?

As much as I'm raring to travel again, I'm not doing it at the surrender of my personal liberties. Contact tracing app? Forget it. And where do my test results "go," and who has access to that information?

This is not a question of personal liberties. If anything, it's a question of privacy, and anyone should realize that we have no privacy anymore. So if I can only travel somewhere by taking a COVID-19 test, I'd definitely do it.

Here, they protest that this is all fake and we're taking away their rights.

And then they bring out their guns.

Icelanders are smart, practical, and inventive people. I remember going to a large gym in Reykjavik back in 2008 or so and they already implemented iris scans to gain entry into different rooms/ areas of the complex. When I left Iceland, I recall getting a very comprehensive survey at the airport conducted by the Icelandic tourism board staff, who asked me to participate. They wanted to know what tourists thought of their tourism infrastructure, offerings, future plans, prices, challenges, opportunities, etc. I thought that was incredibly smart and pro-active. Given they're such a thinly populated country with a tiny population, they really have to clamp down on any future outbreaks, so I hope they can fine-tune their tourism numbers to a sustainable level (especially now that I think WOW has gone bust and their airport will likely not be as overrun as before). Being quarantined in Iceland would be crazy-expensive, and the last option I would want (not to mention being deprived of the natural beauty of the place and the cultural offerings in Reykjavik, including the wonderful restaurant and music scene). I've been twice and both trips were the most expensive I have ever taken anywhere (I blew through about $500 a day or so).

Maybe I'm biased because I have a scheduled trip, but I do not understand most of the criticism. The country has all but wiped out its own cases. In opening to new visitors, they will have to be tested at the airport. Or show proof of a recent negative test. And be willing to have tracing enabled in case they do need to contact you. It seems like a pretty safe and thorough way of getting to "new normal."

Are there some legitimate questions? Sure. What is a "recent" test? But the risk of contracting the virus after a pretty recent test is very low. What happens if you do test positive? Will you be turned away? And will it be your cost to buy a return ticket on the spot? That might discourage visitors unwilling to take that risk. Will sites, hotels and restaurants be fully open? Not much point in visiting if those are not operational.

My group will have to get answers to those questions before we decide to go or cancel, but I am encouraged that there is some progress.

Maybe the infrastructure will eventually be in place to have testing available before you board a plane, not on arrival.

But the risk of contracting the virus after a pretty recent test is very low.

I don't follow the logic here. There is nothing about testing for the virus that prevents catching it.

You can have the test, and get sneezed on by someone who has it a second after and catch it. When the results come back they will show you don't have it, but you now do.

The only valid test in this situation is one you take exiting the plane, or everyone takes the test as they board the plane including crew.

Right. Not having it when you board plane doesn't mean you couldn't get it ON the plane. Or at the airport. Or in the cab to the airport. There's also this little issue of false-negative testing at est. % rates high enough to be of concern.

And what happens if you or your child spike a low-grade temp en route that has nothing to do with COVID, such as an ear infection? And what constitutes a "recent" test proof?

Mark - the logic of the statement that having a "recent" test means that the risk of contracting the virus in the short time afterward is very low - is that few people are exposed to the virus, especially those engaging in responsible practices (like wearing masks, avoiding large groups, social distancing, washing hands, etc...) in any given set amount of time. Of course the statement is completely dependent on what "recent" means, which is a valid question. The longer the duration after testing, the more chances there are of someone being exposed. It is also not clear how long it takes for the virus to be detected in one's system in a test. In your anecdote, someone might be sneezed on walking into the testing clinic, then test negative because the virus had not taken root yet. We have to be reasonable here.

I think a test a day or two in advance of the flight would be a reasonable condition, and make it easier to arrive comfortable that you would not be turned back because of a positive test if you wait to be tested on arrival. The challenge is that sort of on-demand testing may not be available in the US by mid-June.

get rid of the cell phone when you don't want to be traced

Well you could invest in an invisibility cloak from the Harry Potter shop in the United Kingdom and maybe that will keep you from being tracked.

This topic might be more helpful if posted in the Iceland section rather than here in General Europe....for those who haven’t been here or are thinking of traveling to Iceland?