COVID-19 pandemic in the Falkland Islands

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached to the Falkland Islands on 3 April 2020.[2] The number of cases peaked at 13, and all were from the Military base at Mount Pleasant. All patients have recovered.[3]

COVID-19 pandemic in the Falkland Islands
Location of the COVID-19 outbreak
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationFalkland Islands
First outbreakWuhan, China
Index caseRAF Mount Pleasant
Arrival date3 April 2020
(4 months, 1 week and 5 days)
Confirmed cases13[1]
Active cases0
Recovered13
Government website
COVID-19 @ F.I.G.

Background

The Falkland Islands Infectious Diseases Plan set out stages for the COVID-19 response. The Falkland Islands has carried out robust preparations for COVID-19.[4] It was announced that measures may include:

  • Restrictions on all non-essential travel both internationally and locally.
  • Possible changes in attendance to schools and nurseries, which will be implemented gradually in the next few weeks.
  • Revised arrangements on the use of Falkland Islands Government Air Service (FIGAS) and Concordia Bay.
  • Changes to the delivery of health services. This includes changes to the way King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) will operate. Medical visits to Camp will also be increased.
  • Contacting those vulnerable people we know of and providing further advice.
  • A range of measures to support the Falkland Islands economy, including businesses and staff, are being developed and will be announced in due course.

There are no facilities to test for the virus on the Falklands and it takes around 10 days to get test results back from Britain, which is almost 8,000 miles away.[5] On 23 March, the Argentinian Government offered the British ambassador to Brazil medical supplies including COVID-19 tests,[6] but the Falklands has as of 27 March not followed up on the offer.[5] The Falklands has received the equipment to test locally,[7] and the laboratory was fully operational by 18 May.[8]

Timeline
COVID-19 cases in Falkland Islands  ()
     Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases
Date
# of cases
2020-04-03
​
 1
⋮
​
 1(=)
2020-04-05
​
 2(+100%)
⋮
​
 2(=)
2020-04-08
​
​
 5(+150%)
⋮
​
​
 5(=)
2020-04-14
​
​
 11(+120%)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-17
​
​
 11(=)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-04-21
​
​
 12(+9%)
⋮
​
​
 12(=)
2020-04-24
​
​
 13(+8.3%)
⋮
​
​
 13(=)
2020-04-30
​
 13(=)
Data sourced from fig.gov.fk
The testing lag often results gaps in the chart, because the results were still pending.

March

On 19 March, around 238 people were flown off the islands on a plane bound for Córdoba, Argentina.[9]

The Falkland Islands government confirmed it had had contact with the United Kingdom concerning the pandemic.[10] It advised tourists and foreigners to leave the archipelago as it could not guarantee further flights leaving the islands, whilst cruise ships reaching the Falklands would only be allowed to dock if passengers had been on board for at least 10 days and if none were suffering from symptoms of COVID-19. Travel between the islands of the Falklands was heavily restricted, and social distancing measures were put in place.[11]

On 23 March, Argentina said it had reached out to Britain's ambassador in Buenos Aires to offer material support to the islands.[12]

On 26 March, the islands' government closed all schools and nurseries until 4 May.[13] On 28 March, it was confirmed that a child was critically ill with suspected COVID-19 and was being treated at a hospital in Stanley.[14]

April

On 3 April, the first case in the islands was officially confirmed.[2] All schools and nurseries were closed and all workers not deemed critical told to stay at home.[15] On 5 April, a second case was confirmed.[16] On 8 April, there were five cases and one recovery, all serving at the Mount Pleasant Complex. 137 people have been tested thus far.[17] On 14 April, there were 11 cases and one recovery.[18]

By 15 April, 255 samples had been processed. Additional measures were put in place, and journeys from and to Mount Pleasant Complex needed to be approved.[19] On 17 April, a set of measures was announced for individuals and business and includes among others, a job retention scheme, unemployment subsidy, non-repayable grants to businesses.[20] On 23 April, it was announced that the Falkland Islands would be able to test for COVID-19 the following week when testing machines were due to arrive. 337 samples had been sent to the United Kingdom.[21]

On 27 April, the prices of wool had dropped 50% compared to the previous year. The prices had already been in decline, but the remaining drop was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[22] On 29 April, it was announced that price of electricity per unit for all consumers would be decreased from 23p to 18p from 1 May onwards.[23]

On 30 April, it was announced that all 13 cases in the islands had recovered.[3]

May

On 1 May, an easing of restrictions was announced: schools, businesses would be allowed to reopen on 11 May. The travel restriction between Stanley and Mount Pleasant will remain in effect.[7]

On 15 May, further easing of restrictions for travel between the islands had been announced.[24]

July

On 6 July, new quarantine regulations have come into effect for the Falkland Islands. Visitors to the islands must provide information about the journey and where they will be staying. A mandatory 14 day isolation has to be observed on arrival. Military personnel who have completed quarantine in the United Kingdom will be exempted.[25]

Statistics

Chronology of the number of active cases

References
  1. "COVID-19 Update – 1 May 2020". Falkland Island Government. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  2. Haynes, Deborah (4 April 2020). "Coronavirus: British serviceperson is Falkland Islands' first case of COVID-19". Sky News. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. "COVID-19 Public Update – 30 April 2020". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  4. "Falklands moves to next COVID-19 response; March 26 referendum postponed for six months — MercoPress".
  5. "Isolation Helped These Islands Delay a COVID-19 Outbreak. Now, Being Remote Could Be Their Biggest Problem". Time. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  6. "Argentina ofrece a Gran Bretaña ayuda para los habitantes de las Islas Malvinas por coronavirus (in Spanish)". infobae. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  7. "Government easing some restrictions – 1 May 2020". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  8. "COVID-19 Update - 18 May 2020". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
  9. McLoughlin, Bill (19 March 2020). "Coronavirus panic: Falkland Islands 'strongly advises' tourists LEAVE before virus hits". Express.co.uk.
  10. "London's support for Falklands to deal with the impacts of the pandemic". Merco Press. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  11. "Latest Updates". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  12. Sigal, Lucila (23 March 2020). "Argentina offers coronavirus aid to UK citizens in Falklands". Reuters. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "Falkland Islands: New stage in Government COVID-19 response". Merco Press. 26 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  14. "Coronavirus: Falkland Islands brace for first COVID-19 case". Sky News.
  15. "British serviceperson is first case of coronavirus in Falkland Islands". Metro UK. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  16. FalklandsinUK (5 April 2020). "Breaking: 5:4:20 A second positive test result for coronavirus #COVID19 has been confirmed by CMO Dr Edwards in the #Falklands #FalklandIslands. The patient is based at the #BFSAI Mount Pleasant Complex, where they have been in isolation with a range of COVID19 like symptoms.pic.twitter.com/2MWHgoNUaR". @FalklandsinUK. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  17. "COVID 19 Public Update – 8 April 2020". Falkland Island Government. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  18. "COVID-19 Public Update PM – 14 April 2020". Falklands Islands Government. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  19. "COVID-19 Public Update – 15 April 2020". Falklands Islands Government. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  20. "Government unveils comprehensive COVID-19 support package – 17 April". Falklands Islands Government. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  21. "Falklands should be ready next week to test swabs in the Islands". Merco Press. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  22. "Wool prices down 50% since early last year". Penguin News (week 18). Archived from the original on 29 April 2020. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  23. "COVID-19 Public Update – 29 April 2020". The Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  24. "COVID-19 Update – 15 May 2020". Falkland Islands Government. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  25. "New Quarantine Regulations for the Falkland Islands come into force". Penguin News. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
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