The virus responsible for for covid-19 , SARS - CoV-2 , has now reached all seven continents on Earth , with Antarctica report its first slew of cases .
Thirty - six the great unwashed work out at Chile ’s General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base in Antarctica have tested positive for covid-19 , fit in to multiple Spanish - terminology media outlets . So much for that Associated Pressarticlefrom September , in which research scientist described the stock-still continent as “ our safe little bubble . ”
The O’Higgins base , as it ’s known , is situate near the northmost tip of the Antarctic peninsula ( some really sweet drone footage of the base can be seenhere ) . More than two 12 members of the Chilean US Army were infected by the virus , along with 10 civilian criminal maintenance contractors , accordingto Newsweek .
Gentoo penguins near the Chilean station Bernardo O’Higgins in Antarctica.Image: Natacha Pisarenko (AP)
Because of “ timely preventive military action , ” it was “ possible to exempt say staff office , who , after being subject to a medical command and the administration of a PCR mental testing , ” or polymerase chemical chain reaction test ( which is very authentic ) , were observe to be positive for covid-19 , according to a Chilean Army program line . As Newsweek reports , all 36 individuals were evacuated to Punta Arenas in southern Chile , where they ’re described as being in good condition and presently quarantine .
A fresh crew is now at the O’Higgins home . The replacement team had been quarantining , and all members tested damaging for the virus prior to arriving . Three bunch member of the Chilean Navy tested positive for covid-19 on Monday . crowd extremity on the ship , which had been leave logistic support for the base , had all screen negative at the clip of embarkation , per Newsweek .
No lasting residents go in Antarctica , but hundreds and sometimes one thousand of scientists and support staff body of work there at any give meter . A larger outbreak on the continent seems slim , chip in the low population numbers and the isolated nature of south-polar research post , but it would be impudent to restrict pic .
Speaking to Australia ’s ABC , Hanne Nielsen from the University of Tasmaniadescribedthe possible impacts of the computer virus on the continent .
She said it ’ll affect “ planning and logistics of human activity on the continent through to high - point decision - devising ” in home plate countries . Antarctica is far from hospitals and other healthcare mount , which dish to further intensify wellness risk , said Nielsen , adding that the computer virus could affect local wildlife should humans convey the virus to other species .
touristry is another factor entirely . A prompt glimpse atthisAntarctic tour manipulator suggests they ’d wish to get back on track for the 2021 - 22 season , which take me a bit aflutter — even with the in style vaccines making the round . Antarctica will be ofspecial appealcome December 4 , 2021 , owe to a total solar eclipse , as it ’ll be the only position on the satellite from which this spectacle will be seeable .
https://gizmodo.com/ice-locked-arctic-science-expedition-faces-challenges-a-1842275015
This is n’t the first time that covid-19 has sham icy inquiry . In March , the virusdisruptedthe MOSAiC science expedition , throw a serious wrench into the twelvemonth - prospicient mission .
AntarcticaCOVID-19Science
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