Iceland’s government has stipulated that all Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiana: AMI) personnel arriving in the country for the NATO air policing mission must undergo a four-week quarantine period for coronavirus before beginning their duties.
Seen during their last NATO deployment to Iceland, the AMI’s F-35A pilots and support staff will have to quarantine for a total of 28-days before they can begin their next rotation in mid-June.
The Icelandic Coast Guard, which is responsible for operating all of the country’s air assets and which provides support to the NATO mission out of Keflavik Airbase, said that AMI personnel must be quarantined for 14 days before their arrival on the island later in the month, and for a further 14 days once they arrive.
“[AMI] members [must] undergo a 14-day quarantine, medical examination, and screening at a military base [in Italy] before arriving here [in Iceland]. Then they [must] return for 14 days to quarantine in the security zone at Keflavik Airport after arriving in [Iceland],” the coast guard said, adding; “Implementation of the epidemic measures is carried out in consultation with the Directorate of Health.”
NATO told Janes that the preparations for the AMI detachment have not been hampered by compliance with these measures, noting, “The mission continues.” These measures will be constantly reviewed and adapted to new developments accordingly, the spokesperson added.
As noted by the coast guard, a group from Italy has already arrived in Iceland to prepare the ground for the arrival in the second week of June of six Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) combat aircraft and their associated air and ground personnel. Following its arrival, this preparatory group underwent 28-days quarantine in Italy and within the security zone at Keflavik Airport. Janes
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