Cancel all big New Year parties

We should cancel any big New Year’s parties and only celebrate with people from within our own social bubble.

This is the message from the health authorities in the wake of yesterday’s 19 positive Covid tests.

“Large gatherings are unsafe, and it is absolutely crucial that everyone respects the health guidelines, especially during tomorrow’s New Year’s celebrations,” says chief medical officer Lars Fodgaard Møller.

‘Superspreader’ event

Eleven of yesterday’s 19 positive tests have been traced to a private Christmas party in Tórshavn where one person had infected ten others.

“We currently know of four active chains of infection, and then there are a few individuals for whom we have yet to identify the infection route,” says Møller.

“While we have quarantined a lot of people linked to these known cases, a certain degree of uncertainty remains as the virus is still in circulation.”

Only small parties

Although the health authorities are not officially tightening the Covid restrictions, they now strongly advise against holding the traditional neighbourhood New Year’s celebrations with bonfires and house parties.

“As we all know, when alcohol is involved, we tend to lose sight of the safety guidelines. It’s a good thing that bars are now closing at 10pm,” says police chief Michael Boolsen, who heads the epidemic commission.

“So it’s crucial that no more than 20 people gather together and that we are extra careful now and respect the safety guidelines with proper distancing and hygiene.”

Vaccinations starting today

On a more positive note, the first batch of 975 Covid vaccines arrived at Vágar Airport last night.

The vaccines were transported with police escort to Tórshavn where they were stored in a special freezer ahead of today’s first vaccinations.

For further information about Covid-19 in the Faroes, visit corona.fo.

Translated by prosa.fo