COVID-19 Arrives On The World’s Last Untouched Continent
Chilean officials have reported several COVID-19 cases at a research base on the isolated continent.
ByJohanna Silver
Published on 12/23/2020 at 5:48 PM
Chile s Bernardo O Higgins army base is seen at Antarctica in this undated handout photo provided by the Chilean Army on December 22, 2020. | Reuters
Chile s Bernardo O Higgins army base is seen at Antarctica in this undated handout photo provided by the Chilean Army on December 22, 2020. | Reuters
Antarctica has experienced its first recorded cases of COVID-19, meaning the virus is now known to be present on every continent.
Officials from Chile have announced dozens of cases on the continent stemming from separate incidents involving two research bases and a navy ship.
In the headlines:
►Pfizer and BioNTech announced an agreement with the U.S. government to supply an additional 100 million doses of the companies’ vaccine. This agreement brings the total number of doses to be delivered to the U.S. by July 31 to 200 million.
►The AFC East champion Buffalo Bills are exploring a plan that would allow up to 6,700 fans to attend their remaining home games, including at least one in the playoffs. The plan, yet to be approved, calls for the use of rapid COVID-19 tests and contact tracing.
►Luke Letlow, a Louisiana Republican who was elected as a U.S. Representative in November, was transferred to the intensive care unit of a Shreveport hospital to continue treatment for COVID-19. Letlow, 40, is in stable condition.
“I don t think it ll make any changes to what we do but we are constantly reassessing to make sure we have what we need in place to keep Covid away from Antarctica if we can.” Williamson said there was no contact between Scott Base and the Chilean base, which was about 4000km away. She said there was often a bit of contact between Scott Base and its neighbour, the US McMurdo Station, but this season they had been much more cautious with the level of contact depending on who was at the base and how recently they arrived.
Mike Scott/Stuff
Coronavirus cases recorded in Antarctica at Chilean research station
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DecDecember 2020 at 11:33pm
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On Monday, Chile s military said at least 36 people had been infected at the Bernardo O Higgins base
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Antarctica can no longer lay claim to being the only continent free of coronavirus after 36 Chileans tested positive for COVID-19, according to the country s military.
Key points:
The General Bernardo O Higgins Riquelme base is one of 13 operated by Chile
The base is a long distance from Australia s three research stations
Isabella Kwai, The New York Times Published: 23 Dec 2020 12:10 AM BdST Updated: 23 Dec 2020 01:58 AM BdST Chile s Bernardo O Higgins army base is seen at Antarctica in this undated handout photo provided by the Chilean Army on December 22, 2020. Chilean Army/Handout via REUTERS People walk along Orne Harbour, Antarctica, February 6, 2020. Reuters
Antarctica is no longer the last continent free from the coronavirus after 36 people stationed at a Chilean research base tested positive, local media reported. ); }
The virus was detected in 26 members of the Chilean military and 10 maintenance workers stationed at the Base General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme in the Antarctic Peninsula, authorities said in a statement to 24 Horas, adding that they were tested after reports that some had developed symptoms.