Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Iceland had become the worst-hit country in Scandinavia. But it reversed its fate, without a full lockdown. And to date, Iceland has seen very few deaths. How? Largely because of the harmonious collaboration of "The Trinity" – Iceland’s chief epidemiologist, Director of Health, and superintendent of police – who implemented the "pandemic plan" – a framework for working together, and saving lives. In episode two of Teamistry's second season, host Gabriela Cowperthwaite brings us a story of optimism to cut through the gloom. We hear directly from The Trinity: Alma Moller, Iceland's Director of Health, Þórólfur Guðnason, its Chief Epidemiologist, and Víðir Reynisson, Chief Superintendent of the Office of the National Commissioner of the Police. We also learn how Kári Stefánsson, the CEO of deCODE genetics, and his team of scientists assisted government health officials by examining the virus and increasing Iceland's testing capacity. And Alexander Elliott, an Icelandic journalist, describes how the country's pandemic fight unfolded and how its teamwork saved lives. Teamistry is an original podcast from Atlassian. For more on the series, go to https://www.atlassian.com/blog/podcast.
The first Icelander infected with Covid-19 returned home from a ski holiday in the Italian Alps in late February.
6 weeks later, the tiny island nation becomes the worst hit country in Scandinavia.
It's April 5, and they've recorded their highest ever number of active cases.
Health authorities are bracing for the worst.
Easter is just a week away.
It's a special holiday in Iceland, full of cozy festivities and large family gatherings.
And that could mean disaster.
Health authorities know that people need to stay home to avoid spreading the virus.
But how are they going to get the message across to the entire nation, would you believe?
Through song, a group of icelandic musicians record a jaunty new version of a popular song called Goda Faerd or Bon Voyage, with lyrics changed to a decidedly 2020 theme.
The track is called let's travel indoors, and it extols the virtues of self quarantine, including bubble baths, cuddling on the couch and the very icelandic tradition of the home spa.
But it's not the pop stars who get the public's attention.
It's a trio of bureaucrats who, until a couple months before, had worked at their jobs in relative anonymity.
Thorolfur Gudnison, Iceland's chief epidemiologist, Alma Muller, the country's director of health, and vidur Reinesen, superintendent of police, each pop up to sing a couple of lines.
Here they are.
Now the three are known to the public as the Trinity.
And since the crisis broke, theyve worked together to manage the countrys response.
While the world reeled from a new and unknown threat.
Icelanders were able to follow a detailed roles and responsibilities framework drawn up years in advance.
It guided their plans, but also allowed them the freedom to improvise, which let them respond to the crisis with amazing effectiveness.