World News – AU – Coronavirus cases in Antarctica at a Chilean research station

Antarctica can no longer claim to be the only continent-free coronavirus continent after 36 Chileans reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.

Antarctica can no longer claim to be the only continent free of coronavirus after 36 Chileans reportedly tested positive for COVID-19. .

Up to 36 people have been reported in the Spanish-speaking media as being linked to the base of the Chilean army. General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme tested positive for the virus on Monday.

The research station, known colloquially as O’Higgins, is one of 13 active Chilean bases in the Antarctic.

Located near the northernmost tip of the Antarctic Peninsula in West Antarctica – far from Australia’s bases in East Antarctica – it has been described by a travel website as « hard to get to even in Antarctic terms ». .

Australia sent about 250 expeditionists to Davis, Mawson and Casey and Macquarie Island stations this season, about half the usual staff.

According to the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) website, only employees deemed essential to the operation of the stations and monitoring of wildlife and climate traveled south.

Expeditionists were isolated in Hobart for two weeks and tested three times for COVID before traveling to Antarctica.

The Scientific Committee for Antarctica has already examined how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected Antarctica.

The ABC has asked the AAD, the Council of Managers of the National Antarctic Programs, the World Health Organization, the Chilean Embassy and the Antarctic Research Institute Instituto Antártico Chileno for comments.

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AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, 10 hours before GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)

Coronavirus, Antarctica, Chile, General Bernardo O’Higgins Base