15 December 2020

Update on Covid-19 swabbing in the Falkland Islands

Today’s update on Covid-19 swabbing will be the penultimate update before the New Year – unless there is a significant or urgent need to communicate with the public before then.

As of this afternoon, the updated results are as follows:

• Total number of swab tests taken and processed to date: 5,082
• Total number of swabs taken but not yet tested: 44
• Total number of positive test results since 3 April 2020: 23
• Number of current positive test results within the Islands: 6

The current cases have been identified as a result of quarantine surveillance swabbing. They demonstrate that the system is working as intended and the virus is being fully contained.

All cases are currently in quarantine and are being monitored by medical professionals. Four of the six are asymptomatic and no one is seriously unwell with Covid-19. The new cases arrived via two recent southbound flights on 3 and 7 December 2020.

All individuals must complete 14 days of self-isolation and also test negative twice for Covid-19 before they are permitted to leave quarantine.

The next weekly update is scheduled for Tuesday 23 December 2020.