Corona reaches Antarctica. The Princess Elisabeth Polar Station, a Belgian research facility in Antarctica is facing a coronavirus outbreak, with at least 16 out of 25 workers testing positive. According to reports, the facility is the world’s first zero-emission polar research station. It has been following extremely strict precautionary rules to avoid the virus. The research station is positioned in the Dronning Maud Land region, East Antarctic.
The first positive case was identified on December 14, 2021. The member was a returnee from South Africa. Later, two other members of the travel party tested positive. The three positive cases were evacuated on December 23 but more workers continued to contract the virus.
Reports suggest that all team members are fully vaccinated. None has severe symptoms. The station also has two emergency physicians, proper pieces of equipment to treat patients with severe symptoms, and the ability to analyse PCR tests.
As a precautionary measure, further arrivals at the station have been stopped till the pandemic is on.
