Hair salons and children’s sports programmes will be allowed to reopen November 18 when new infection prevention regulations take action. Gatherings will continue to be limited to 10 people or fewer and a social distance of two metres is still necessary. Minister of Health Svandís Svavarsdóttir broke the news to reporters just after 12 o’clock today.
She stated that there will be three fundamental changes to restrictions. First of all, hair and beauty salons and massage therapists can reopen. Second, children’s sports programmes will be able to resume and finally, gatherings of up to 25 upper secondary school students will be permissible, provided that they can keep a distance of 2 metres. Current restrictions only allow first-year students and exception to the 10+ gathering ban. The restrictions will be in place until December 2.
According to the Minister, the changes to the restrictions are in full accordance with Chief Epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason’s suggestions. During yesterday’s information briefing, Þórólfur stated that he would start to suggest easing restrictions but he would recommend it would be done slowly and that the changes would be more moderate than many people had hoped. Gyms and swimming pools will remain closed, as will bars and clubs. Restaurants will not be allowed to remain open after 9 pm.
