ANTARCTICA: Polar researchers in Antarctica have contracted coronavirus despite being fully vaccinated and living far away from civilisation.
At least 16 of the 25 staff based at Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Polar Station have caught the virus, the Le Soir newspaper reported, proving there is no escape from the pandemic.
Princess Elisabeth polar station in Antarctica.
The outbreak took hold despite all staff passing multiple PCR tests, quarantining and living in one of the most remote places in the world. All 25 researchers were fully vaccinated and one had a booster shot. Before leaving for the station, they had PCR tests in Belgium two hours before flying to South Africa.
In Cape Town they quarantined for 10 days and took another PCR test.
A further test was needed when leaving for Antarctica and a final one five days after that.
One person tested positive seven days after arriving at the station on December 14. The individual was placed in isolation but tests revealed two others had caught the virus.
All three left the station on December 23 but the virus has continued to spread.
It is thought to be the Omicron variant because that is responsible for 99 per cent of infections in South Africa.
There are two emergency doctors at the station, which will not allow any new arrivals until the virus dissipates.
– THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD