Coronavirus made it to Antarctica: it was the last continent without COVID-19

Antarctica can no longer be considered the last region free of Covid-19, writes Air force.

Photo: Shutterstock

The first coronavirus infection in Antarctica was discovered at the O'Higgins base in Chile.

It is located relatively close to the Ukrainian station “Akademik Vernadsky” (370 km), however, there has been no information about contacts between Chileans and Ukrainians. According to information, no cases of coronavirus infection were detected at the Ukrainian station.

How the virus got to the “ice continent”

On Monday, December 21, the virus was immediately detected in 36 polar explorers from Chile.

According to Chilean media reports, 10 technical workers of the expedition, as well as 26 military personnel became infected (despite the ban on military activities in Antarctica, the military can provide the stations there, as well as transportation).

All of them were evacuated to the continent in the Chilean city of Punta Arenas, where they are in isolation.

All patients are doing well, the Guardian reports.

On the subject: 'The situation is out of control': a new, more contagious strain of coronavirus identified

It also became known about three patients with Covid-19 in the crew of a ship that delivered goods to the base.

The Chilean authorities are now expected to explain how carriers of the coronavirus were able to get to Antarctica, despite all the quarantine measures.

Now a new team has been sent to the O'Higgins station, which has been quarantined and received negative tests.

The Chilean O'Higgins Station (Base General Bernardo O'Higgins) is located on the Antarctic Peninsula - 30 km from Prime Head Cape, the northernmost point of Antarctica.

Impact on Antarctica

Throughout 2020, Antarctica remained “the last continent without coronavirus.” For this reason, Antarctic tourism was even limited, and all expeditions had to undergo strict quarantine.

Therefore, for example, the Ukrainian expedition took several months to reach the “Academician Vernadsky” - the longest in the history of Ukraine.

“The detection of Covid-19 cases in Antarctica will impact many sectors, from the planning and logistics of people on the continent to high-level decisions about their return home,” ABC Australia quoted Hannah Nielsen from the University of Tasmania, who studies the impact of the pandemic on Antarctic tourism.

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“The remoteness of Antarctica increases all health risks. Therefore, access to Antarctica may be limited for a long period,” she said.

The disease can also affect the local fauna.

“The appearance of Covid-19 in Antarctica could also have consequences for local wildlife, because there is a risk of transmitting the virus to other species,” the expert warns.

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