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Antarctica, once the only continent unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic, has recorded its first cases. The 36 new infections are among people stationed at a Chilean research base and include 26 members of the Chilean military and 10 maintenance workers.
Spanish-language media reported on Monday about the outbreak at the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base.
In a statement, the Chilean army said: “Thanks to the timely preventive action … it was possible to relieve said personnel, who after being subjected to a medical control and the administration of a PCR test … were positive for Covid-19”, according to Newsweek. He reported that three members of the crew of a ship that provides support to the base also tested positive since they returned from their mission to Antarctica.
Since then, the 36 people who tested positive have been evacuated to the city of Punta Arenas in Chile, where they are reported to be isolated and in good condition.
General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme is one of the 13 Chilean bases on the island, reports ABC.
Trying to keep the virus at bay in Antarctica has come at a cost. All major research projects in Antarctica have stopped. As a result, research by scientists around the world has been disrupted.
While the mainland has no permanent residents, 1,000 researchers and other visitors stayed on the island over the winter, according to the Associated Press.
In March, when the world crashed in response to the rapid spread of Covid, Antarctic programs agreed that the pandemic could turn into a major disaster. With the world’s strongest winds and coldest temperatures, the continent roughly the size of the United States and Mexico is already dangerous for workers at its 40 bases year-round.
According to a document from the Council of Administrators of National Antarctic Programs seen by the Associated Press: “A highly infectious new virus with significant mortality and morbidity in the extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and health responses public is high risk with possible catastrophic consequences. “
