Read the original article on Best Life.
Chile’s armed forces announced that at least 36 people had been tested positive at the base, including 26 army personnel, and an additional 10 civilian staff who had been carrying out maintenance on the base. And for more previously unaffected areas, check out This Was the Last Place in the U.S. Without a Single Reported COVID Case.
Extensive safety measures had been put in place to keep Antarctica COVID-free, with tourism canceled, facilities locked down, and staff numbers reduced, disrupting many ongoing scientific research projects. Reuters reports that, according to researchers with the British Antarctic Survey, around just 1,000 staff remained at 38 stations dotted across the continent. 2020 had largely passed without infection, however, an increase in travel to and from the region over recent months has heightened the risks. The first COVID cases were identified in Antarctica in mid-December when two soldiers fell ill, an Army press officer revealed. The Magallanes region of Chile, where transport to and from the base departs, is one of the hardest hit areas in the country. And for more on where COVID is the worst in the U.S., check out This Is How Bad the COVID Outbreak Is in Your State. Antarctica is already one of the most dangerous places on Earth for humans to live, even short-term (there are no permanent residents). In 2018, scientists surveying the continent reported the lowest temperatures ever recorded on Earth: around -144 degrees Fahrenheit. More than a few breaths at this temperature will cause your lungs to hemorrhage. According to a document by the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs, as reported by The Guardian: “A highly infectious novel virus with significant mortality and morbidity in the extreme and austere environment of Antarctica with limited sophistication of medical care and public health responses is high risk with potential catastrophic consequences.” And for more regular coronavirus updates, sign up for our daily newsletter. Newsweek reports that the Chilean Army issued a statement saying all 36 COVID-positive patients have been evacuated to Punta Arenas in Chile where they are currently in isolation but are reported to be in a good condition. And for more on the latest news in the battle against COVID-19, check out why If You Live in This State, You May Be Getting Your COVID Vaccine Sooner.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb
