Requirement for rapid Covid-test after arrival on Svalbard
The Government has decided that persons arriving in Svalbard must test for SARS-CoV-2 within 24 hours of arrival. The test must be an antigen rapid test (self-test). The requirement also applies to those who have been fully vaccinated or have undergone Covid-19. This applies from 19 December 2021 at 24:00. The Governor is working on a system for distributing free self-tests on arrival Svalbard.
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Requirements for tests before departure are continued and, together with requirements for tests after arrival, will help to reduce the risk of the spread of infection on Svalbard.
- There is now a great deal of infection circulating on the mainland, and we are concerned about outbreaks in Svalbard. The emergency situation on Svalbard is more vulnerable than on the mainland with limitations in the capacity of the health service and long transport when intensive health care is needed. The uncertainty combined with the new omicron variant means that we are now introducing further measures to reduce the risk of outbreaks on the island, says Minister of Health and Care Services Ingvild Kjerkol.
The test obligation applies in principle to everyone, but a few exceptions are made, including for children under 16 years of age where it is disproportionately demanding to have the test taken by the child. The current requirement for a negative test before departure to Svalbard is adjusted accordingly in line with such an exception for children under 16 years of age. It is planned that rapid tests (self-test) will be free and available to travelers at the airport in Longyearbyen. In case of a positive test, the person must immediately isolate themselves and report the result to Longyearbyen Hospital.