COVID-19 pandemic in the Falkland Islands


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

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. It was announced that measures may include:
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. On 23 March, the Argentinian Government offered the British ambassador to Brazil medical supplies including COVID-19 tests, but the Falklands has as of 27 March not followed up on the offer. The Falklands has received the equipment to test locally, and the laboratory was fully operational by 18 May.

Timeline

March

On 19 March, around 238 people were flown off the islands on a plane bound for Córdoba, Argentina.
The Falkland Islands government confirmed it had had contact with the United Kingdom concerning the pandemic. 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.
On 23 March, Argentina said it had reached out to Britain's ambassador in Buenos Aires to offer material support to the islands.
On 26 March, the islands' government closed all schools and nurseries until 4 May. 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.

April

On 3 April, the first case in the islands was officially confirmed. All schools and nurseries were closed and all workers not deemed critical told to stay at home. On 5 April, a second case was confirmed. On 8 April, there were five cases and one recovery, all serving at the Mount Pleasant Complex. 137 people have been tested thus far. On 14 April, there were 11 cases and one recovery.
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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
On 30 April, it was announced that all 13 cases in the islands had recovered.

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

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.

Statistics

Chronology of the number of active cases