Dr. Marc Siegel: Iceland and coronavirus – island a haven from politics of fear, even as delta variant spreads

As of July 1, Iceland is removing all COVID restrictions, despite the emergence of the highly transmissible delta variant throughout Europe and on into the United States.

Simple. Most travelers into the country have been vaccinated against COVID or have demonstrable antibodies showing that they have recovered from COVID and have natural immunity. As of July 1, you will no longer need to be tested at all if you are in this group, while other unvaccinated visitors who have not had COVID are tested twice and quarantined in between. Punitive approaches haven’t worked throughout the pandemic and they aren’t going to work now either. So far the dike is holding firm. I experienced the hugely positive psychological relief of going maskless this week in Iceland in public places and swimming free with smiling locals in the brand new hot-springs fed Sky Lagoon overlooking the sea. Iceland has a craterous otherworldly feel, and the freedom from COVID contributes to this in a positive way.