As of May 18th, public swimming pools in the nation of Iceland were able to reopen after having been closed nearly two months due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The pools opened in accordance with the easing restrictions listed on the official Iceland government website.
Most pools in the capital city of Reykjavík typically close at 10 pm, but, to commemorate the reopening, were allowed to remain open overnight. Swimmers lined up outside of pools’ doors in anticipation of their opening, counting down to midnight when pools were officially opened. Patrons cheered as they entered facilities.
Steinþór Einarsson, manager of the City of Reykjavík’s Sport and Recreation Department, says both staff and patrons were elated to return to the water. “I am here in Sundhöll and it’s sold out. I was down at Laugardalslaug around 11.30 pm and the line reached all the way out to the parking lot. There were definitely 200-300 people in the lineup,” he told RÚV.
Below is a video of one pool’s reopening, courtesy of Just Icelandic:
City of Reykjavik mayor Dagur B. Eggertsson said on Facebook last Friday (Google Translate), “The swimming pools in Reykjavik open on Monday in accordance to easing of restrictions.
“Yes, this means someone will be tired at work on Monday – but they won’t just be tired but first and foremost clean and happy. See you in the swimming pool!
Pools are able to operate at half capacity until June 1st when a 75% capacity can be reached. The nation anticipates an unrestricted number of swimmers to be in effect after June 15th.
At the time of publishing, Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Center lists 1,803 total coronavirus cases as having been reported during the pandemic, resulting in 10 deaths.
Iceland 11,000 cases most of them solved by now still chooses to follow some guidelines.
America most infected country in the world lets open up
Most infected, one of the highest populations, testing a lot. The lockdowns are nonsensical at this point. And yes, America didn’t do a great job up front on many levels and continues to not do a great job on many levels.
But that’s hardly an argument to continue chasing bad policy.
What would be good policy
Protect people in nursing homes.
No more government definition of what is “essential”
Media to publish recovery numbers and findings from antibody tests that have already been conducted worldwide.
Publish downward trend in % positives (not total positives)
Use actual science and data rather than continued headlines of “experts warn”
Immediately open up gatherings to 50 or less with individual states allowing more
Continue testing to identify hotspots on a local level
Study how many countries have actually reopened
No more gotcha reporting from media (pipe dream 🙂
I think sub-national policies are necessary at this point. In the UK we’re seeing areas that were initially hit hardest (London) today reporting zero new cases, while areas that were seemingly ‘getting off lightly’ a month ago are seeing hundreds of new positive tests every day now. Rather than country by country, we should be looking town by town.
Meanwhile, Denmark acknowledges that while they don’t know why, they recognize opening up is working and are pressing even further.
Amazing to see a govt a) admit not fully having an answer immediately and b) actually follow the data rather than what was “supposed to happen”
https://twitter.com/Nordic_News/status/1263029276309413890
BUT WE ARE SAVING LIVES. MUST CONTINUE SAVING LIVES! Great share Dr Swim Phil.