The Chief Epidemiologist has made a change in the reporting of COVID-19 cases

As of yesterday, the Chief Epidemiologist in Iceland has made a change in the reporting of covid-19 cases. The result of the change is that there are, as of 20 July, a total of 1 839 cases that have been identified since the first case on 28 February.

Since 15 June, Iceland has tested all travellers born in 2004 and earlier who have entered the country from a high risk area (this was, until last Thursday, all countries except Greenland and the Faeroe Islands). A total of 45 749 tests have been performed at the border, and all tests with a positive response for the SARS-COV-2 virus have been reported; a total of 110. Until now, these positive results have been reported as new cases of covid-19 in Iceland.

However, all of those who had positive responses have been further analyzed and tested for the presence of antibodies in a serological test. Those with antibodies are not considered to be currently infected, despite traces of the virus being found in their samples. Therefore, these individuals should not be considered to have COVID-19 at the time of testing.

This further analysis has led to the result that new infections found in the screening at the border are 18, and 92 of the positive samples are not relevant for the purpose of counting the true number of COVID-19 cases in Iceland.

During the same period, a total of 10 infections have been found in the Icelandic population.

The correct number of infections in Iceland to date is therefore 1 839.

More info: Covid.is - Data.