Icelandic court rules state not liable for quarantine compensation claim

Iceland's state will not have to pay compensation to a man who demanded 2 million Icelandic króna (approximately $14,500 USD) in damages for a two-week quarantine he underwent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Court of Appeal upheld a lower court's decision, ruling in favor of the state.

The man had arrived in Iceland from the United Kingdom without presenting a recognized vaccination certificate. He also failed to comply with the PCR testing requirement at the border, which was in effect at the time. According to the court's ruling, had he taken a test and received a negative result, his quarantine period would have been reduced to five days.

Court documents from the Reykjavík District Court revealed that the man's actions were a conscious decision. His legal stance and testimony indicated a deliberate choice not to submit a vaccination certificate and to forgo the mandatory PCR test at the border. The court inferred that he intended to challenge the legality of these specific regulations.

Authorities were alerted to the man's non-compliance by testing personnel at Keflavík Airport, who reported his refusal to undergo testing. The man had also informed the testing staff that he likely would not adhere to the 14-day isolation period. The Court of Appeal's decision confirms that the state is not obligated to provide compensation in this instance.