Covid is now truly global: 36 Chileans at a military base on Antarctica - 26 military and 10 civilians - have tested positive.
The virus was likely transported there last week by amphibious ship Sargento Aldea bringing in maintenance personnel and supplies. The ship itself quarantined after it had 3 cases onboard after the visit. All infected have been evacuated to Patagonia.
The Chilean antarctic territory - with Chilean, Russian, Uruguayan, Korean and Chinese bases and a population of somewhere around 150 in summer - was previously locked down and reduced to skeleton crews with no contact to each other for half a year. The resupply run and bringing in contractors for maintenance was necessary due to this situation. The territory previously dodged the bullet in April, when Australian cruise ship Greg Mortimer with a massive outbreak onboard was turned back and not allowed entry.
The virus was likely transported there last week by amphibious ship Sargento Aldea bringing in maintenance personnel and supplies. The ship itself quarantined after it had 3 cases onboard after the visit. All infected have been evacuated to Patagonia.
The Chilean antarctic territory - with Chilean, Russian, Uruguayan, Korean and Chinese bases and a population of somewhere around 150 in summer - was previously locked down and reduced to skeleton crews with no contact to each other for half a year. The resupply run and bringing in contractors for maintenance was necessary due to this situation. The territory previously dodged the bullet in April, when Australian cruise ship Greg Mortimer with a massive outbreak onboard was turned back and not allowed entry.
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