Falkland Islands Government
COVID-19: Information and Guidance

08 April 2020

COVID-19 Public Update

KEMH UPDATE

There is no change today in the status of COVID-19 cases in the Falkland Islands.

As of yesterday, there were five confirmed cases, all individuals currently serving at Mount Pleasant Complex,

One of these individuals continues to receive care at KEMH while a second has now been discharged from the hospital.

The other three individuals are in isolation at the Base as part of the ongoing MPC arrangements for dealing with possible cases.

137 samples in total have been tested so far in the UK. 131 have been tested as negative. The remaining six swabs were from the five individuals who have now tested positive for COVID-19.

KEMH continues to take test swabs and these will be sent to the UK on the next northbound Airbridge flight.

TRAVEL BETWEEN STANLEY AND MPC

As has already been reported BFSAI have stringent restrictions in place and are working hard to reduce movement from MPC to Stanley; this is in order to limit travel to that which is essential only.

BFSAI and RFIP are working collaboratively with stop checks to identify the reasons for journeys to understand if they are essential or not. Reducing movement between the two locations is an important measure.

Both communities have a vital part to play. Please think about why you are travelling and if it is essential.

This reduction in travel between the two locations is in place for good reason, please do not ignore this advice.

FIG and BFSAI are also jointly reviewing business practice to identify if changes can be made to conduct activity in a different way to further reduce the need for travel.

Ask yourself before you undertake any journey do you really need to travel and please work with us at this difficult time.

NEW RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS TO THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

Executive Council has approved measures to restrict non-essential visitors to the Falkland Islands, in order to help delay the spread of the COVID-19 virus here.

This measure will seek to protect the local community and reduce demand on the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

This means that visitor permits will not be granted.

This does not affect returning residents - individuals holding Falkland Islands status, PRP, work permit holders, and resident permit holders. Nor does it affect BFSAI personnel and MoD contractors.

Only by exception may persons outside of the above categories be permitted entry; this is on a case by case basis for a specific reason and only if approved by the Principal Immigration Officer.
The number of confirmed cases around the world has risen sharply in recent weeks. The World Health Organization acknowledges measures that restrict the movement of people may prove temporarily useful in places with few international connections and limited medical capacity.

They are advised to be short in duration and proportionate to the risk to public health.

This measure will ensure that residents and key workers can continue to come to the Islands whilst minimising any unnecessary travel.

Separate measures are already in place around the management of arriving travellers, to ensure that they isolate from the community for an appropriate period on arrival.

Due to the current suspension of the LATAM services from Chile and Brazil the implications of these changes currently fall mainly on the South Atlantic Airbridge connection which is still operational.

Travellers that fall outside of the categories listed above will not be permitted to travel on this service unless this is approved in writing by the Principal Immigration Officer in advance.

These restrictions apply to all travellers who require a visitor permit regardless of how they wish to travel to the Falklands, whether by air or sea.

Around the world, international restrictions on visitors have been applied, and so this proposed move is both proportionate and in-step with the response of other nations.

Executive Council will review these measures no later than 31 May 2020 in order to determine whether they remain appropriate.

  • If you have any questions please email the Customs & Immigration Service at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone +500 27340.
  • Please note that the office is closed to the public at this time and queries will only be dealt with over the phone or by email.

GUIDANCE ON SELF ISOLATION FOR AIRBRIDGE ARRIVALS

The Government yesterday strengthened guidance around Self-Isolation for those who have arrived on Airbridge flights.

This group is described as being in Quarantine. This is self-isolation for the protection of others.

So if you are in this group, it’s important that you update yourself with the advice below.

If you have recently arrived in the islands you must self-isolate for 14 days just in case you have Covid-19 and don’t realise it. Some people who have Covid-19 don’t feel ill but we don’t want to take the risk that you could infect others around you.

In practical terms this means that you should not be leaving your house for any reason. You should be asking other people to do your shopping etc and leaving this on the porch for you.

If you live with other people then you need to be able to live separately from the others in the same house.

This means –

  • Being able to have a separate bedroom and bathroom
  • Always being able to be 2 metres apart from other people if you are in the same room
  • Cleaning all surfaces after you have touched them

If you can’t do this then you either need to quarantine yourself somewhere else or the entire household must quarantine together. If you want more help with this please contact KEMH on 28000.

BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY UPDATE

The Falkland Islands Government continues to assist British Antarctic Survey (BAS) around repatriating staff now that their summer season has concluded.
39 out of the 150 staff have so far been repatriated through the Falkland Islands and onto the UK. This will continue over the next month and a half.
To reassure the community, there have been no COVID-19 cases in Antarctica and staff are coming from an effectively quarantined area.
BAS is ensuring there will be no impact on the community and around 90 staff are or will be staying on the cruise ship, Hebridean Sky, currently in Falkland Island waters, before they return to the UK in early May.

HELP OUR STORES

You can help our supermarkets and stores keep up the great service they are providing during the COVID-19 response.

The West Store is reminding it has in place a two-metre separation rule for shoppers and staff, so please respect this and if possible ONLY send one person to do the shop.

They also have a delivery service, which means you can order and have the goods delivered to your home.

Kelper Stores is also asking that people come singly to do their shopping. The stores also offer a delivery service or prepare your order for you to come and collect.

The Chandlery also have a delivery service but are noting some people are using the service for their daily shopping needs – it would be better if they plan for a weekly order to ease the mounting pressure on making deliveries.

As well, they would prefer people when possible to please use the store rather than home deliveries this will enable the Chandlery to offer an improved service to the High-risk people in isolation.

Advice around the Falkland Islands Government’s COVID-19 response can change. Please watch out for further statements from the Government in local media and through the FIG and Community Facebook pages, the web page www.fig.gov.fk/covid-19 and other channels.