The final continent on Earth without a recorded case of Covid has fallen to the virus.
Antarctica has escaped the pandemic until now thanks to its sparse population and the halting of several major research projects over the summer.
But Spanish-language media has reported that 36 new infections have been recorded among those stationed at a Chilean research base, according to the Guardian.
Twenty-six members of the Chilian army and ten maintenance workers have since been evacuated from the General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme research base.
In a statement, the Chilean army said: “Thanks to the timely preventive action … it was possible to relieve said personnel, who, after being subjected to a medical control and the administration of a PCR test ... turned out to be positive for Covid-19.”
Those at the base who tested positive have since been evacuated to the city of Punta Arenas in Chile.
It has also been reported that three crew members on a ship providing support to the base have also tested positive since returning from their mission to Antarctica.
General Bernardo O’Higgins Riquelme is one of 13 Chilean bases on the continent. Although Antarctica does not have any permanent residents, some 1,000 researches are thought to have remained.
