Chief epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason told reporters yesterday that he has advised the health minister to increase the assembly limit to 200 people and reduce the two-metre rule to one metre, RUV Iceland reports. The minister usually accepts the chief epidemiologist’s recommendations which would come into effect on 7th September.

Another part of his recommendationis to allow gyms and swimming pools to operate at 75 percent capacity instead of the current 50. He further recommends allowing theatres to start performing plays again, and for sporting events to start allowing spectators, though the one-metre rule and 200-person limit would apply to both. Sports facilities able to guarantee total separation would be allowed multiple 200-person groups with no mingling.

Þórólfur recommends that bars, restaurants, cafés, clubs, and other licensed premises continue to close no later than 23.00 each evening, as is currently the case.