It is reported that for several months, hundreds of scientists and researchers from Antarctica have lived on the only continent in the world far away from SARS-CoV-2. But now, this “pure land” is lost.
A Chilean military base in Antarctica confirmed that 36 people were infected with SARS-CoV-2. This means that all the seven continents in the world have outbreaks.
The Chilean Army reported on the 21st that 26 army soldiers and 10 civilians engaged in the maintenance of Bernardo O ‘Ekins Riquelme base in Antarctica tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Chilean health officials said on the 22nd that 21 people were infected by a navy supply ship that recently went to the base.
Chile’s health officials and the military seized the opportunity to evacuate and isolate personnel from this base surrounded by oceans and icebergs. The base is located in Trinity Peninsula, the northernmost part of Antarctica, and has been stationed for a long time. The Chilean Army said that the withdrawn personnel are currently being isolated and continuously monitored in Magellan Region, the southernmost part of Chile, and no complications have occurred.
Reuters reported that Antarctic research and military stations have done everything possible to prevent the epidemic in recent months, taking measures such as canceling travel, reducing activities and personnel, and blocking facilities.
Researchers from the British Antarctic Survey said that 1,000 people at 38 stations in Antarctica had survived the winter safely before, but with the warming of the southern hemisphere, the number of personnel exchanges increased in spring and early summer, which aggravated the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Magellan region of Chile is one of the closest human settlements to Antarctica, from which many ships and planes set off for Antarctica. The local area is one of the areas with the most serious COVID-19 epidemic in Chile.
According to British Sky News Channel, the population of Antarctica fluctuates greatly with seasons, with about 1,000 people in winter and about 5,000 people in summer. Although Antarctica has a small population, the occurrence of COVID-19 cases may have a significant impact.
Hann Nelson of university of tasmania, Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the occurrence of COVID-19 cases in Antarctica not only affects human activities in the Antarctic continent, but also means that local wild animals are at risk of being infected with COVID-19.
