Thanks to its victory over Corona ... a European country that lives a normal life

Iceland, which boasts one of the lowest European COVID-19 cases, has gradually eased restrictions and allowed swimming pools, gyms and bars to reopen, focusing its strategy on testing people coming from abroad.

At the Caldi bar in central Reykjavik, customers have returned to beer since authorities allowed the bars to reopen on Monday.

"I feel so special," said Gunnar Godionson, an ophthalmologist who was sitting at a table with his friend in one of the bar's three areas, each with a separate bathroom.

Over the past three weeks, Iceland has been the only "green" country on the map of the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, which means that theoretically the European Union should not ask those coming from Iceland to present any checks or quarantine themselves.

Since mid-November, the vast island in the North Atlantic Ocean has gradually relaxed restrictions in four stages as the number of COVID-19 cases decreased.

Since January, Icelanders have been able to exercise in gyms and swim in public swimming pools a month earlier, in sharp contrast to restrictions that still apply in most parts of Europe.

"I think we stayed for five hours on the first day after they reopened," says Anna Maul Gudmundsdottir, a 45-year-old lecturer at the University of Iceland.

"We are very lucky here in Iceland," says John Gardar Gudmundsson, a 52-year-old financial advisor, as he catches his breath after a hard workout with his personal trainer at a gym.

With only five new cases discovered in the country during the past two weeks, with the exception of about 20 cases that were discovered and stopped at the borders, the epidemic has reached its lowest level in more than five months and its incidence is the lowest in Europe, with the exception of the small Vatican City, according to official data collected. France Press.

The country of 365,000 people, which has so far vaccinated more than 4% of its population, has recorded just over 6,000 cases and 29 deaths.

While cases are declining in most European countries, none, including Iceland, have succeeded in curbing the spread of the disease.

Genetic sequence

Experts say the key to Iceland's success is manifold.

The chief supervisor of the Office of National Commissioner of Police Feder Rinson says the number one reason is "the willingness of the state to comply with all restrictions that have been put in place."

He added that the second reason is "the strength of our medical system in dealing with the matter. And then, of course, the combination of contact tracing and testing and analysis of all positive cases."

The location of the island played an important role as well.

The isolated, vast and remote island near the Arctic Circle has a population of only 365,000, while 200 to 300 travelers reach it daily, compared to 18,000 before the outbreak of the epidemic.

"I think it's less important than what people want to assume," said University of Iceland biostatist Joanna Jacobsdottir.

"This is an easy excuse for other countries," she added.

While the economy is booming and life has largely returned to normal, Iceland remains cautious and has strengthened its strict border controls.

Since January 15, all travelers arriving at Keflavik airport, the point of entry for more than 98% of people coming into the country, have to undergo two tests over a five-day period while in quarantine.

And because Iceland performs the genetic sequence for every positive test, it has been able to detect about 60 cases of the mutated British version at the border, effectively preventing its spread.

No cases of the mutated version from South Africa or Brazil have been detected.

The biostatist at the University of Iceland insists that "it is extremely unlikely, with mathematical calculations, that cases will leak out under border measures and with double testing and quarantine."

"But there is always human error ... so we still have to be careful," she added.

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