Three cases have also been found in crew members of a Chilean Navy ship returning from the continent, La Prensa Austral reported. The Chilean army and the Chilean Antarctic Institute did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reports of the cases appear to end the continent’s nine-month escape from a virus that has been found in almost every other corner of the world. About 1,000 people have weathered a sunless winter on the continent, which contains about 40 bases, according to The Associated Press, and newcomers must quarantine and test frequently. The Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs has warned that the virus could have “catastrophic” consequences on the continent, given the extreme environment and limited medical and health resources there, according to The Associated Press.

Source: bd News24 December 22, 2020 17:15 UTC