Belgian scientific base in Antarctica engulfed by Covid-19 despite strict measuresAll staff members preparing to depart to the station had to undergo a PCR test in Belgium two hours before leaving for South Africa, take a PCR test five days after their arrival in Cape Town, where they also had to quarantine for ten days. Another test was required when leaving Cape Town for Antarctica and another PCR test had to be undergone five days after arrival.
Despite the strict measures, one positive case was detected on 14 December among a group of people who had arrived at the base seven days earlier, and although this person was immediately placed in isolation, tests revealed that two others had also contracted the virus.
All three people were evacuated on 23 December, but the virus continued to circulate. [...] According to Hubert, all polar stations open in Antarctica are currently affected by the circulation of the virus within bases.
