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“I don t think it ll make any changes to what we do but we are constantly reassessing to make sure we have what we need in place to keep Covid away from Antarctica if we can.” Williamson said there was no contact between Scott Base and the Chilean base, which was about 4000km away. She said there was often a bit of contact between Scott Base and its neighbour, the US McMurdo Station, but this season they had been much more cautious with the level of contact depending on who was at the base and how recently they arrived.
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Coronavirus cases recorded in Antarctica at Chilean research station
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DecDecember 2020 at 11:33pm
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On Monday, Chile s military said at least 36 people had been infected at the Bernardo O Higgins base
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Antarctica can no longer lay claim to being the only continent free of coronavirus after 36 Chileans tested positive for COVID-19, according to the country s military.
Key points:
The General Bernardo O Higgins Riquelme base is one of 13 operated by Chile
The base is a long distance from Australia s three research stations
Isabella Kwai, The New York Times Published: 23 Dec 2020 12:10 AM BdST Updated: 23 Dec 2020 01:58 AM BdST Chile s Bernardo O Higgins army base is seen at Antarctica in this undated handout photo provided by the Chilean Army on December 22, 2020. Chilean Army/Handout via REUTERS People walk along Orne Harbour, Antarctica, February 6, 2020. Reuters
Antarctica is no longer the last continent free from the coronavirus after 36 people stationed at a Chilean research base tested positive, local media reported. ); }
The virus was detected in 26 members of the Chilean military and 10 maintenance workers stationed at the Base General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme in the Antarctic Peninsula, authorities said in a statement to 24 Horas, adding that they were tested after reports that some had developed symptoms.
The 36 news cases originate from a Chilean research base on the continent
Author of the article: Jelena Maric
Publishing date: Dec 22, 2020 • December 22, 2020 • 1 minute read • An outbreak of coronavirus with up to 36 people infected was detected at the Chilean Army s Bernardo O Higgins Riquelme base in Antarctica, the only continent which remained free from the virus, authorities confirmed on December 21, 2020. Photo by AFP PHOTO / Chilean Antarctic Institute
Article content
Antarctica, the only continent to be left untouched by COVID-19, has reported its first set of cases almost a year after the virus began to spread across the world from China.
The 36 new cases are among people stationed at a Chilean research base – 26 are members of the Chilean army and 10 are maintenance workers, reported the Guardian.