The US has paused all travel to McMurdo Station in Antarctica due to a surge in Covid cases (file picture). Photo: 123RF
The United States has paused all travel to Antarctica as its research station deals with a surge in Covid-19 cases.
More than 70 people, or about 10 percent of the workforce, now have Covid-19 at McMurdo Station.
On 5 November, the US National Science Foundation implemented a pause on all travel for the next two weeks while it reassessed the situation.
Its expert epidemiologist has recommended KN-95 masks be worn at all times, which the foundation was assuring would be made available.
McMurdo Station neighbours New Zealand's Scott Base and staff visit each other for both work and social occasions.
Antarctica New Zealand confirmed Scott Base is currently Covid-19 free, and staff were only able to visit the station for work purposes and provided "all those in the meeting wear masks and maintain physical distancing".
There is currently no impact on travel to Antarctica for the New Zealand programme.
At the beginning of the year the Belgian scientific research station in Antarctica had to deal with a Covid outbreak with at least 16 of the 25 workers at the Princess Elisabeth Polar Station catching the virus.
