Changes to the preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic that take effect tomorrow, April 15th, allow the opening of swimming pools for up to 50% of the maximum number of guests. The validity of a new rules is until May 5th 2021, unless otherwise advertised. Children born 2005 and later are not included in the number of guests. Special attention is drawn to the fact that it is possible to see the number of pool guests in swimming pools at any given time on the website.

Recently, it has been reported that vehicles without registration numbers are left in open and public areas, and the municipality has received numerous complaints about this. It has therefore been decided to launch a special campaign for vehicles that do not have number plates placed on sidewalks, open areas, uninhabited plots and paths and can obstruct vision and create danger or promote the sadly beautiful appearance of the town. This applies in particular to certain districts, but such vehicles can be found within almost all districts.

The general restrictions will go from 10 to 20 persons; sports, swimming and health centre activities will resume, with restrictions; as will stage art activities; and the ski areas can reopen. As for schools, the proximity limits at all school levels will go from 2 metres to 1 metre, and children in preschools and primary schools will again be able to partake in organised sports, youth and recreational activities. This is the gist of the relaxation of the disease prevention rules that were announced by the Minister of Health in the government’s meeting today, in keeping with the recommendations of the Chief Epidemiologist. Regulations on the changes are being drawn up and will be published later today. They are expected to remain in place for 3 weeks.

Clearer requirements are made for home quarantine, regarding housing and rules of conduct. Those who are unable to stay in a home quarantine that fulfils the requirements will need to stay at a quarantine facility. However, no fee shall be collected for the stay. This is among the stipulations of a new regulation issued by the Minister of Health that entered into force on the 9th of April and is based on recommendations from the Chief Epidemiologist. The principal aim is to reduce as possible the risk of bringing infections to the country by measures allowed by the Health Security and Communicable Diseases Act. The regulation repeals regulation no. 355/2021 which entered into force on the 1st of April, including provisions requiring individuals from risk zones to stay in a quarantine facility which were deemed to have had insufficient legal basis by the District Court of Reykjavik.

The booklet was translated and localised from the IVHHN booklet: The health hazards of volcanic acids and geothermal gases. With the supervision of: Chief Epidemiologist , Environment Agency of Iceland, The Icelandic Meteorological Office, Department of Civil Protection and Emergency Management, University of Iceland Institute of Earth Sciences, National University Hospital of Iceland, Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority, The Icelandic Red Cross, Association of Health Inspection Areas in Iceland and The Icelandic Association for Search and Rescue.

Cleaning of streets, sidewalks and footpaths in Hafnarfjörður has begun. The town center in Hafnarfjörður has been swept and will be swept especially well this weekend and immediately after the weekend, organized sweeping of the neighborhoods will begin.

Online registration has been opened for after-school centers for the school year 2021-2022. Applications are valid for one school year at a time (August-June) and applications received before June 15th will have priority.

A great opportunity to grow vegetables for all interested - individuals and families
Hafnarfjörður's community gardens are open to all residents and it is a great opportunity for families and individuals in Hafnarfjörður to grow their own vegetables, take care of it and harvest vegetables this summer. The vegetable gardens will be open at Víðistaðir and at Öldugata. The cost for one garden is ISK 1,5411.- and for two gardens ISK. 2,568.- Seedlings, seeds or other materials for cultivation are not included, but access to water and some small tools will be available. The gardens will be plowed and will be allocated at the end of May.

The primary school Easter break is fast approaching, and some of you will be leaving the country to reunite with loved ones abroad. However, everyone must remain aware of the measures in force at the Icelandic border on their return. Passengers must show a certificate proving that they have tested negative in a PCR test for COVID-19 before boarding on their return journey to Iceland. The test must have been taken no more than 72 hours before departure (the first part of the journey)

Like Hafnarborg , Hafnarfjörður municipality wants to congratulate Guðrún Jóhanna Ólafsdóttir and Francisco Javier Jáuregui, the founders and directors of the Hafnarborg Songfest, on the nominations for The Icelandic Music Awards 2021, as the Hafnarborg Songfest has been nominated as “Music Event of the Year – Festivals” and Stuart Skelton‘s concert, The Modern Romantic, which took place at the Songfest, has been nominated as “Music Event of the Year – Concerts”, both in the field of classic and contemporary music.