A member of the Icelandic band has tested positive for Covid. Because of this, Iceland will not perform live in the shows this week at the Eurovision Song Contest 2021.
The band has confirmed the news themselves on Instagram. In an official statement moments after, EBU confirmed that the rest of the delegation has again tested negative for COVID-19. “The Icelandic delegation will remain in quarantine and be monitored by the Health Authorities,” the EBU statement reads. “In close collaboration with the EBU and the host broadcaster, Daði og Gagnamagnið have therefore taken the difficult decision to withdraw from performing in this year’s live Eurovision Song Contest shows. They only want to perform together as a group.”
Earlier this week, the Icelandic delegation already had one other positive test from someone outside the band. This led to Iceland missing the Turquoise Carpet Ceremony. The positive tests come after EBU and host country Netherlands have managed to keep the virus out of Ahoy for nearly 6 weeks.
Rehearsal tape or back-up tape?
According to Event Supervisor Sietse Bakker, Iceland may now choose a rehearsal runthrough or the live-on-tape recording made in their own country. This choice is entirely up to the delegation themselves.
UPDATE: Iceland has chosen to go with their second rehearsal tape. This rehearsal took place on Thursday. Despite the fact that Iceland’s performance tonight and tomorrow will not be live, we will nevertheless see a performance recorded in Ahoy.
