COVID-19: Antarctic Research Center fights coronavirus outbreak | World News

A research center in Antarctica is battling the spread of coronavirus, with at least 16 out of 25 workers tested positive for the virus.

Princess Elizabeth Polar Station, a Belgian facility, has strict rules to avoid COVID-19[female[feminine[స్త్రీ[feminine Infections, Le Soir reported.

According to the magazine, the first positive case was found on December 14 among the team members who arrived at the facility a week before leaving South Africa.

Two other members of the travel party tested positive.

All three were laid off on December 23, but most of the workers continued with the COVID contract.

All team members received two doses of the vaccine and none had serious symptoms with the virus, Le Soir reported.

The station has two emergency physicians on site, capable of evaluating equipment and PCR tests to treat individuals who develop severe symptoms.

Workers must provide a negative test before traveling from Belgium to South Africa, but they must be self-detained in South Africa and test negative before traveling to Antarctica.

In South Africa, the highly circulating omicron variant of the coronavirus was first identified.

Traffic to and from the station, the world’s first zero-emission polar research station, was banned until further notice.