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COVID-19 has arrived at a remote Chilean army base in Antarctica, with 36 people testing positive on Monday, Chilean time.
Antarctica was, until these cases were recorded, the last continent untouched by coronavirus.
According to the 5th Military Division of the Chilean Army, quoted by Spanish-language media, the group who tested positive is made up of military personnel and employees of an external maintenance company 26 are military and 10 are civilians.
The Chilean Bernardo O Higgins Station in Antarctica.
Credit:Stone Monki
The army said all were tested quickly and were being monitored by a medical team with the help of the health department.
Updated
Dec 22, 2020
Chile reported 36 positive coronavirus tests at its Gen. Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base.
The coronavirus has now spread to all seven continents with the first reported cases of COVID-19 in Antarctica.
Chile on Monday confirmed 36 infections at its Gen. Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base ― including 26 Chilean army personnel and 10 civilians working for a contracted maintenance company ― according to Chilean broadcaster 24 Horas.
The 36 people were evacuated to Punta Arenas, in southern Chile, and placed under isolation, the base said in a statement.
Three additional COVID-19 cases were discovered among crew members of the Sargento Aldea, a Chilean naval ship that visited the research base on Nov. 27 and returned to Chile on Dec. 10.
COVID-19 spreads to Antarctica, reports say
The Guardian
Antarctica, once the only continent not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, has reportedly recorded its first cases. The 36 new infections are among people stationed at a Chilean research base and include 26 members of the Chilean army and 10 maintenance workers.
Spanish-language media reported the outbreak at the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base on Monday.
“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 [polymerase chain reaction] test . turned out to be positive for COVID-19,”
Covid 19 coronavirus: Virus on every continent as first cases reported in Antarctica
22 Dec, 2020 05:15 PM
4 minutes to read
By: Greg Dickinson
An Antarctic research station has reported cases of Covid-19, meaning the virus has now reached every continent on the planet.
On Monday, the Chilean research base confirmed 36 new infections of Covid-19, including 26 members of the Chilean army and 10 maintenance workers.
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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 [.] turned out to be positive for Covid-19.