Belgian research center in Antarctica paralyzed by COVID-19 outbreak

BRUSSELS

Belgium’s research station in Antarctica has been paralyzed by a COVID-19 outbreak as two-thirds of its personnel have been infected with the coronavirus, according to Belgian media.

The staff members at the Princess Elisabeth Polar Station have caught the virus despite all being double vaccinated, and they are placed in quarantine after positive tests, the Belgian television channel RTL reported on Sunday.

The work at the research station has stopped and a new scientific mission on meteorites was canceled.

The first COVID-19 case in the Antarctic station was detected on Dec. 14., a week after a new group of scientists arrived.

Shortly after two more new cases were revealed.

Although the three infected people were isolated and evacuated from the research station on Dec. 23, the virus continued to spread.

In total, two-thirds of the station’s 30-strong staff got infected and had to self-isolate even if they only had mild symptoms.

Under the decision of the Polar Secretariat’s Strategic Council, no one is allowed to enter the station until the virus disappears or at least Jan. 12.