Fines for violations of the Icelandic Centre for Disease Control and Prevention in connection with COVID-19

Due to the decision of the Minister of Health on official quarantine measures in accordance with the Quarantine Act No. 19/1997, which is a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has now sent instructions to all police commissioners in Iceland in respect of violations of the rules of the Minister of Health, which deal with assembly bans, the closing of gatherings and activities, as well as the isolation of infected persons and quarantining.

In processing the instructions, consideration has been given to, among other things, how the Directorate of Public Prosecutions in the Nordic countries have responded to the circumstances that have arisen as a result of COVID-19.

As a general rule, the instructions of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions are based on the imposition of fines for violations of the Icelandic quarantine laws and rules issued on the basis of the Act. The amount of the fine shall be determined according to the seriousness of each violation.

Sigríður J. Friðjónsdóttir, the Director of Public Prosecutions, says it is very important to make it clear what measures the police can take if decisions of the Minister of Health on quarantine measures are violated. Notifications to the police of violations of official quarantine measures have been few to date, which is a sign of community solidarity regarding the significance and importance of these measures.

The Directorate of Public Prosecutions, No. 4 of 2020, on violations of the Icelandic Disease Prevention and Control Act and rules issued on the basis of it, cf. Article 19 of the Icelandic Disease Prevention Act, No. 19 of 1997, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, may be obtained or by clicking on the button an instruction.