HELSINKI, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Effective Feb. 25, Iceland removed all COVID-19 restrictions, including those on international travel.
According to the country's government, there are now no numerical limits for indoor or outdoor social gatherings, no health restrictions in schools and no quarantine requirements for those infected by COVID-19.
Travelers are now able to visit the country regardless of vaccination status.
Meanwhile, Iceland's COVID-19 infection rate remains high, with over 2,000 new cases reported per day. There is no comparable increase in the number of severe COVID-19 cases.
The country's chief epidemiologist is banking on herd immunity, saying that the way out of the pandemic is a widespread herd immunity against COVID-19, that is to say, an infection of up to 80 percent of the population, according to a government press release.
"Nonetheless I encourage people to be careful, practice personal infection prevention measures, and avoid interaction with others if they notice symptoms," the country's Minister of Health said in the press release.
To date, around 110,000 Icelandic residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and the same number is presumed to have been infected without being diagnosed, it said. Iceland has some 360,000 inhabitants. ■
