Daði & Gagnamagnið in quarantine: Icelandic delegation member tests positive for COVID-19
Daði & Gagnamagnið and the whole delegation from Iceland is now in quarantine and will undergo a PCR test. UPDATE: Iceland's Gagnamagnið all got negative results from the PCR tests
UPDATES ON ICELAND
UPDATE 18 May, 14:18 CEST
The member of the Icelandic delegation who tested positive for COVID 19 remains in isolation. The rest of the delegation have all returned negative PCR tests.
As a further precautionary measure, the Icelandic artists and necessary support, will be tested again on Wednesday and Thursday, as they have not been in close contact with the infected person. The remainder of the Icelandic delegation will remain in quarantine.
UPDATE 17 May, 22:19 CEST
UPDATE 17 May, 12:35 CEST
Following a positive COVID-19 test within the Icelandic delegation yesterday (Sunday 16 May), they too have had PCR tests for which we are awaiting the results today and will remain in quarantine.
They will also have further testing ahead of the same dress rehearsals in which they are also due to perform.
All accredited individuals, including artists, have to test negative for COVID-19 before they can re-join the production.
UPDATES ON MALTA AND ROMANIA
UPDATE 18 May, 14:18 CEST
We’re pleased to confirm that the PCR tests for the whole Romanian and Maltese delegations have returned negative results.
Both delegations were tested as a precautionary measure after one member of both the Polish and Icelandic delegations respectively, staying in the same hotel, tested positive.
Malta and Romania will both appear as scheduled in Semi Final 1 of the Eurovision Song Contest tonight.
UPDATE 17 May, 12:35 CEST
The delegations from Malta and Romania have not tested positive for COVID-19 and are not quarantining but, due to the fact they are staying in the same hotel as Poland and Iceland, did not take part in the Turquoise Carpet event and were also PCR tested as a safety precaution.
Both these delegations will be welcomed to the arena today for rehearsals following negative results from the routine test this morning, as is normal procedure.
A member of the Icelandic delegation has tested positive for COVID-19, meaning the whole Icelandic delegation will undergo a PCR test and stay in isolation until the results of the tests are in.
This comes just one day after a member of Poland's delegation tested positive for COVID-19.
STATEMENT FROM EBU
During a routine test on Sunday 16 May, a member of the Icelandic delegation tested positive for COVID-19.
In accordance with our strict health and safety protocol this person has now gone into isolation and as a precautionary measure, the other members of their delegation will also now undergo a PCR test and self-isolate.
Unfortunately, this means that the Icelandic delegation will now not attend the Turquoise Carpet event in person this afternoon.
We will have further updates in due course and send our best wishes to the whole delegation.
Same hotel as Poland, Malta and Romania
The delegations from Poland and Iceland, which both have had a positive COVID-19 case, are staying at the same hotel as the delegations from Malta and Romania.
EBU reports, that all delegations from the same hotel – Poland, Iceland, Malta and Romania – would not take part in Sunday's Turquoise Carpet event as a precautionary measure.
All members of the Maltese and Romanian delegations will also now undergo a further PCR test.
What will happen now?
Delegations with a positive COVID-19 test, will go into quarantine and undergo a PCR test. If a delegation won't be able to perform at one of the shows of Eurovision Song Contest, the delegation will choose between two options how their song should be presented at Eurovision:
- Back-up recording from the 2nd rehearsals
- "Live-on-tape" recorded performance
Iceland in Eurovision Song Contest
Iceland's debut in Eurovision Song Contest was back in 1986, and has been participating 32 times since.
Best result are two second-places with Yohanna in 2009 and Selma in 1999.
Since the introduction of Semi-finals in 2004 Iceland qualified to the Grand Final 9 out of 16 times.
Iceland is the only Northern European country that has yet to win the Eurovision Song Contest.
