New Covid-19 testing strategy lacks key approval

Not all the necessary approvals are in place ahead of this afternoon’s opening of the borders for travellers to and from most EU and Schengen countries.

The new testing strategy put in place at the airport and at the Port of Tórshavn is still awaiting an approval from the Data Protection Agency regarding the handling of sensitive personal information.

The chief medical officer said on Thursday that all necessary approvals were in place, but the Data Protection Agency said yesterday that it has not yet approved the new testing system, which is to be carried out by two private test labs.

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Public health professor Pál Weihe, who has the medical responsibility of the new testing system, says that there will be no mandatory testing of incoming travellers until the system has been approved.

Health minister Kaj Leo Johannesen said in a brief statement yesterday that he expects all approvals to be sorted out on time. Prime Minister Bárður á Steig Nielsen yesterday declined to comment on the matter.

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Leivur Persson, the head of the Work Environment and Fire Safety Authority, which oversees the corona consultancy service, said yesterday that all efforts are being made to ensure that the required approval will be in place before 2pm today when the first tests are due to be carried out.

The new travel guidelines currently allow entry for travellers from all EU and Schengen countries except Sweden and Portugal.

The list of approved countries will be updated on a weekly basis. For updated information, visit the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.

Translated by prosa.fo