Greenland’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed on March 16, as coronavirus has spread across more than two-thirds of the globe and has even infected HBO ‘Game of Thrones’ star Kristofer Hivju. Hivju, who played GoT’s “Tormond Giantsbane” for seven seasons, was confirmed positive in Norway.

According to an Instagram post by Hivju, he has mild symptoms and said he and his family “are in good health” and are self-isolating. He urged followers to consult their country’s CDC website and to do what they can to not spread the virus.

“Together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals. Please take care of each other, keep your distance, and stay healthy!” Hivju wrote. 

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Greetings from Norway! Sorry to say that I, today, have tested positive for COVID19, Corona virus. My familiy and I are self-isolating at home for as long as it takes. We are in good health – I only have mild symptoms of a cold. There are people at higher risk for who this virus might be a devastating diagnosis, so I urge all of you to be extremely careful; wash your hands, keep 1,5 meters distance from others, go in quarantine; just do everything you can to stop the virus from spreading. Together we can fight this virus and avert a crisis at our hospitals. Please take care of each other, keep your distance, and stay healthy! Please visit your country’s Center for Disease Control’s website, and follow the regulations for staying safe and protecting not just yourselves, but our entire community, and especially those at risk like the elderly and people with pre-existing conditions. @grymolvaerhivju #fightcorona #solidarity #takecare #folkehelseinstituttet Thanks to @panoramaagency

A post shared by Kristofer Hivju (@khivju) on


In Greenland, which is officially an autonomous Arctic territory of the Kingdom of Denmark, a patient in Nuuk, its capital, was confirmed positive for COVID-19 on Mar 16. According to The Straits Times, the patient has been placed in home isolation.

In response, the island advised against any nonessential flights to or from Greenland, according to The Straits Times, which reported the island had already placed restrictions on public gatherings of more than 100 people.

Denmark, meanwhile, has confirmed over 900 cases of COVID-19 as of Mar 16, including 18 cases in the autonomous Faroe Islands.



Photo credit (Hivju): ID 90412175 © Laurence Agron | Dreamstime.com
Photo credit (COVID-19): National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH. MERS virus particles. Colorized transmission electron micrograph MERS virus particles (blue) found near the periphery of an infected VERO E6 cell (yellow).