A coronavirus flare-up is impacting a research outpost in Antarctica; sixteen out of twenty-five personnel have returned positive test results.
The Princess Elisabeth Polar Station, a Belgian-operated research facility, maintains stringent protocols to prevent COVID-19 infections, as noted by Le Soir.
The publication indicates the initial positive case surfaced December 14th amongst personnel arriving a week prior from South Africa.
Two additional individuals in their travel group subsequently tested positive.
While the initial three individuals were airlifted December 23rd, a rising number of workers continued to be infected.
All team members are fully vaccinated (two doses), and Le Soir notes that no one with the virus exhibits serious symptoms.
The station has two medical professionals on-site, the capacity for treating individuals with severe symptoms, and the capability to process PCR tests.
Personnel are obligated to furnish a negative test result before departing Belgium for South Africa, followed by a self-imposed quarantine period in South Africa, concluding with another negative test before their Antarctic deployment.
South Africa was the initial location where the highly contagious Omicron variant of the coronavirus was discovered.
New arrivals to the station—the world’s first zero-emission polar research station—are prohibited until the outbreak subsides.
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