Cooler but still well above normal this week

MPR News helps you turn down the noise and build shared understanding. Turn up your support for this public resource and keep trusted journalism accessible to all. 

Turn Up Your Support

Antarctica is no longer the only continent free of the pandemic. 

Thirty-six people stationed at the General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Antarctic base had tested positive for the virus, Chilean officials said this week.  The permanent research station is located on tip of the continent south of Chile.

Of those infected, 26 are members of the Chilean army and 10 are civilian maintenance personnel, authorities said in a statement to the Spanish-language television channel 

. The officials added that contact tracing was underway and those who tested positive were in isolation. 

No other countries have publicly reported positive cases on Antarctica, 

 reported, and there have been concerted efforts to ensure the virus did not reach the remote continent. 

The impacts of the highly contagious virus spreading on the sparsely populated continent could be disastrous, the newspaper noted, because researchers and other staff shelter in close proximity due to the harsh elements and have limited medical supplies. 

The U.S. National Science Foundation is aware of the positive virus cases at the Chilean outpost, a spokesperson said in a statement to NPR. 

"Personnel at U.S. Antarctic Program stations have had no interactions with the Chilean stations in question or the personnel who reside there. NSF remains committed to not exchanging personnel or accepting tourists at USAP stations," the spokesperson said. 

Chile has seen a significant outbreak, with more than 590,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 16,200 virus-related deaths, according to 

As of Wednesday, Chile ranked 24th in the world for total confirmed coronavirus cases.  

Health

COVID-19

Brakkton Booker

Author

Thirty-six people stationed at the General Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme Antarctic base had tested positive for the virus, Chilean officials said this week.

The coronavirus has reached Antarctica. Now it's on every continent.

Go Deeper.

Like this?

News you can use in your inbox