The corona virus is a widespread form of virus that can cause mild cold symptoms, but which can also lead to serious respiratory infection. Other corona virus epidemics have included SARS-CoV (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), which broke out in 2003, and MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), which broke out in 2012.

COVID-19 is also a corona virus. The first cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Wuhan in the Hubei province of China in 2019, and the infection spread quickly to the rest of the world. On 11 March 2020 the World Health Organisation, WHO, declared the virus outbreak to be a pandemic, which means an epidemic that has spread to several continents. The first case in the Faroe Islands was confirmed on 4 March.

The WHO has named the new corona virus COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease 2019).

Several other milder forms of corona virus have occurred in the Faroe Islands for a number of winters, causing colds and influenza.

However, we have not before experienced this new corona infection, COVID-19. There is still much we do not know about COVID-19, as our immune system has not previously been exposed to this particular virus. This means that nobody is immune, and everyone can be infected and become ill. This is also why the measures being taken to deal with the outbreak are different from normal influenza.

We are learning more about COVID-19 from testing here in the Faroe Islands and elsewhere, such as in China, as well as from international health authorities and from monitoring how the disease is developing in other countries.

Symptoms occur from two to 12 days after a person has been infected. Most have symptoms after five to seven days.

Usually the symptoms are similar to those of influenza, such as a sore throat, aching muscles, a dry cough and fever. For this reason, it can also be difficult to distinguish between a normal cold or flu and the COVID19 virus, and professional medical care will not usually be needed if the symptoms are not more serious than this.

Some people can, however, develop more serious symptoms. After four to seven days, coughing can become worse, fever can increase and breathing can become difficult. Some may develop such severe pneumonia that they need to be hospitalised.

How long the symptoms last can also vary. For those with mild cold or flu symptoms, these will usually disappear after four to six days, while others may have symptoms for longer.

So far on the global level, most of those infected have had mild flu symptoms, while proportionally few people have become ill enough to require hospitalisation.

The virus spreads from one person to another through droplets. Droplets can be carried up to two metres through the air from coughing and sneezing, before falling quickly to the ground. The virus does not remain in the air after coughing or sneezing for more than a few seconds and is therefore not an airborne infection. It cannot infect through skin, such as on the hands, and only infects through mucous membrane, typically in the nose, mouth and eyes. The virus cannot infect through sweat.

You can be infected if you stand close to someone who transmits droplets through, for example, hugging, coughing or sneezing and the droplets end up in the mucous membrane of your nose, eyes or mouth. You can also be infected by coming into contact with droplets on a surface, and then touching your nose, eyes or mouth.

We do not yet know with any certainty whether infected people can spread the virus before they develop symptoms.

For headaches and muscle pain, paracetamol, such as Pandodil or Pinex, can be used. For mild pain you can also use preparations containing paracetamol and those of the NSAID variety, such as Ipren and Ibuprofen. Never take more than the recommended dosage.

It is important to drink plenty of liquids, especially if you have a high fever.

If you are having breathing difficulties, or other symptoms become worse, you should call your doctor.  To avoid infecting others, do not go in person to the doctor’s clinic.

To become infected you must have been in direct contact with an infected person. This means, for example, that you have shaken that person’s hand, interacted face-to-face or been within 2 meters of the person for more than 15 minutes, or you have been caring for a person with COVID-19 without using protective gear.

You are not at risk until the person who has had direct contact with an infected person also becomes infected.

The Chief Medical Officer is responsible for tracing those who have been in direct contact with infected people and assess whether they should also be in quarantine.

If you feel ill or have symptoms, you should first call your local doctor. If he or she is not available, you can call the after-hours GP service on 1870. It is very important that you call and do not go to a clinic in person.

The doctor will decide if you need to be referred to a hospital, either in Suðuroy, Klaksvík or the National Hospital in Tórshavn. You will be referred to the hospital closest to where you live.

Testing is done by taking a swab of saliva from the back of the mouth, which is then analysed for the presence of COVID-19.

There is no special treatment for the new corona virus. People who are ill with COVID-19 will be treated to relieve the symptoms.

Health authorities support researchers and companies capable of quickly developing medicine and vaccines to combat COVID-19. No vaccine against COVID-19 has yet been developed, so no preventative treatment is yet available.

It seems that most people who are young and otherwise healthy only get mild symptoms. In this sense, COVID-19 resembles the flu, but there are some clear differences between COVID-19 and the flu. This is why authorities are dealing much differently with COVID-19.

With other viral infections, a part of the population is normally immune, as they have been vaccinated or have been previously infected with similar viruses. COVID-19, on the other hand, is a new virus which can infect everyone, because human immune systems have not before been exposed to this kind of virus.  This means that many people can become sick at the same time, putting health services under extreme pressure.

The Chief Medical Officer is urging everyone, including young and healthy people, to follow the official recommendations for minimising the risk of infection in order to protect those members of society whose health condition puts them at greater risk of serious illness.

The most important thing is for children to feel safe and secure. Don’t let children try to understand the situation on their own and come to their own conclusions. Ask them specific questions so you know what they are wondering about and how they are feeling, and tell them the truth. Answer their questions honestly, without going into unnecessary detail. Remind your child that relatively few people actually die from the corona virus

If you need advice on dealing with the psychological aspects of these changing circumstances, and what you can do to sustain your own mental health, or if you have any doubts or questions, you can call  Barnabata. The line is open every day from 20.00 to 22.00 and on weekdays from 9.00 to 16.00. The number is 116 111.

Those at special risk of infection and of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 are:

• Elderly people, in particular people over the age of 80
• People with chronic illnesses
• People with cardiovascular disease (not including well-treated high blood pressure)
• People with lung disease (not including well-treated asthma)
• People with weakened immunity, either genetic or due to medicine or diseases, such as AIDS, which reduce
• People with diabetes 1 or 2
• People with cancer
• Children with chronic disease
• As a precaution, pregnant and postnatal women are also considered at risk

Yes, you should.  Stay at home as much as possible. Avoid places where people are gathered. Pay particular attention to hand hygiene. Consider using gloves when you go out. Follow all advice regarding hygiene in relation to COVD-19:

• Wash your hands well and frequently with soap and water
• Cough or sneeze into your arm – not your hands
• If you use a tissue, discard it immediately and wash your hands again
• Avoid physical greetings such as handshaking, hugging and kissing
• Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people
• Maintain strict hygiene both at home and at work
• If you feel unwell or have symptoms of virus, stay at home to avoid infecting others

All non-essential travel should be avoided. Flights have been significantly reduced. Atlantic Airways only has limited flights between the Faroe Islands and Denmark, while all connections to Bergen, Reykjavík, Edinburgh and Paris have been suspended until further notice. In addition, the Danish police have implemented temporary border controls on all entry to the Faroe Islands, which means that travellers should be prepared to provide proof of identity. Non-national residents in the Faroe Islands will be expected to provide proof of residency.

Read more here:

• Travel

It is recommended that Faroese citizens and permanent residents in the Faroe Islands who are currently overseas on a short-term basis should travel home to the Faroe Islands as soon as possible. Contact your airline. Please note that all people returning to the Faroe Islands must take the utmost precaution and remain in home quarantine for 14 days after their return.

Guidelines from the Chief Medical Officer on quarantine prodecures will be given to all passengers on return flights to the Faroe Islands.

Read more on travel here:

• Travel

Read more on quarantine here:

• Quarantine

The Norwegian Government has informed the Faroese Government that Nordic citizens, including Faroese citizens, will be permitted entry to Norway. Requirements for quarantine may apply. Consult your employer.

It is strongly advised not to travel unless absolutely necessary. On flights between the Faroe Islands and Denmark, priority will be given to medical and health care personnel and patients, Faroese residents who are working overseas, as well as employees in essential sectors such as emergency services. All flight connections between the Faroe Islands and Bergen, Reykjavík, Edinburgh and Paris have been suspended.

On 16 March the police announced that temporary border controls on all entry to the Faroe Islands have been introduced. This means that foreign nationals without a recognised purpose for travelling to the Faroe Islands will be refused entry. All travellers to the Faroe Islands, regardless of nationality, can expect to be required to show proof of identity. Non-national residents in the Faroe Islands will be expected to provide proof of residency.

Non-resident foreign nationals will not be permitted to travel to the Faroe Islands for non-urgent family visits, school excursions, business trips and other normal tourist activities.

Read more about travel:

• Travel

Anyone coming to the Faroe Islands from other countries must be in home quarantine for 14 days. This also applies to anyone working overseas for 14 days, and coming home for 14 days.

If you have been travelling overseas and have recently returned home, it is strongly advised that stay in so-called home quarantine for 14 days. This means that you do not go to work and you should have visitors. You should not go shopping or do other errands outside the home and you should stay within the confines of the property where you are in home quarantine. You must have no direct contact with anyone considered to be particularly vulnerable and at risk of serious illness if infected.

You should pay particular attention to any signs of illness which could indicate a coronavirus infection, such as fever and coughing. If you have symptoms of infection, you should call your local GP during working hours or the after-hours GP service on 1870.

It is also recommended that you:

• Keep the house clean, in particular frequently used areas such as toilets, bathrooms and kitchens
• Wash towels, bedclothes and undergarments at a minimum of 80°C
• Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly

Read more about quarantine here.

• If you have had a confirmed COVID-19 infection and have been in isolation:

An infected person will be released from isolated quarantine when the Chief Medical Officer determines that he or she has made a full recovery.  This will not be until at least 14 days after the infection was first confirmed. The person will be contacted by a doctor the evening before the quarantine period ends.

• If you have been in direct contact with an infected person and have been in quarantine:

People who are in quarantine because they have had direct contact with an infected person will be contacted by a doctor the evening before their period of quarantine ends.

• If you have returned from overseas and have been in home quarantine

You are responsible for your own quarantine, which can end after 14 days.

Anyone in quarantine should stay at home on their property. This includes:

• Those who are infected with coronavirus (isolation)
• Those who have had direct contact with anyone infected with coronavirus (quarantine)
• Those who have recently returned to the Faroe Islands (home quarantine).

This means that you cannot go for a walk or run or go shopping.

Yes, but remember to keep the recommended distance from other people (2 meters) and be aware that the coronavirus spreads easily and quickly.

Everyone returning to the Faroe Islands from overseas is advised to stay in home quarantine for 14 days after their return.