COVID-19 pandemic reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent
23 December, 2020
The COVID-19 pandemic has finally reached every continent on the planet.
Chilean authorities announced that at least 58 persons that were at two military bases in Antarctica or on a navy ship that visited the continent tested positive for the new coronavirus.
So far no other country with a existence in Antarctica has publicly reported any other cases.
Chile's army released Monday (Dec 21) that 36 persons at the Gen. Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Antarctic base own analyzed positive, and on Tuesday medical minister for the Biobio region in Chile explained there will be 21 infections involving people aboard the Chilean navy's Sergeant Aldea supply vessel.
Yet another case was reported in Las Estrellas' village, where civilian personnel working at the Lieutenant Rodolfo Marsh Martin Air Force Base live, said Eduardo Castillo, regional health secretary for the Magallanes area, which oversee Chilean procedures in the Antarctic. The Sargento Aldea ship docked at that village, he added.
The army said the first band of 36 persons includes 26 members of the military and 10 civilian employees of a maintenance contract company. It said none so far had shown complications.
Michelle Rogan-Finnemore, executive secretary of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, said on a statement that the office received a written report from the Chilean Antarctic Institute on Friday about positive cases aboard the Sergeant Aldea vessel “who have disembarked on the ports of Punta Arenas and Talcahuano” on Chilean mainland.
“We have yet to receive further more formal information,” she added.
The first three persons on the Sergeant Aldea vessel tested positive the other day and all 208 crew members are being quarantined aboard that ship, according to the navy. It stated the vessel possessed serviced the base on the Trinity Peninsula between Nov. 27 and Dec. 10.
The US National Science Foundation, the agency overseeing US programmes in Antarctica, said it had been aware of the reports of positive cases in passengers aboard the Sergeant Aldea.
“Personnel at US Antarctic Program stations experienced no interactions with the Chilean stations involved or the personnel who reside there,” the building blocks said. “NSF remains committed to not exchanging personnel or accepting tourists at USAP stations.”
Source: www.channelnewsasia.com
TAG(s):