The island nation of Iceland reported its first COVID-19 case in late February. By mid-March, confirmed cases were increasing at a rate of 60 to 100 per day – an infection rate higher than in the U.S., adjusted by population. Iceland became the worst-hit country in Scandinavia. But fast forward to today, and the situation is completely different.
The country reversed the rate of infection without ever imposing a full lockdown, and as countries around the world struggled with persistent caseloads and climbing death tolls, Iceland saw few deaths. This success was no fluke, it came about because of previous experience with crisis, learning from setbacks, careful planning and persistent collaboration. It came about, too, because of the “Trinity” – Iceland’s chief epidemiologist, the Director of Health, and the superintendent of police – who worked in harmony to contain the spread of the virus when it threatened most. The Trinity implemented the “pandemic plan” – a framework that stipulated effective, honest communication and flexible, autonomous decision-making. It was a crisis strategy that never lost sight of the main goal: work together to save 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, the voices of the country’s heroes: Alma Moller, Iceland’s Director of Health, Þórólfur Guðnason, 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, explains how the country’s pandemic fight unfolded and how teamwork saved lives.
Teamistry is an original podcast from Atlassian.
