16 April 2020
COVID-19 Public Update
KEMH UPDATE
A new batch of swabs for COVID-19 testing have been sent to UK on the South Atlantic Airbridge. The 64 swabs will be processed at a specialist laboratory. In total 319 samples have been sent to the UK so far.The number of COVID-19 cases in the Falkland Islands remains at 11. Of the 11 Covid-19 cases, nine individuals are in isolation at the Mount Pleasant Complex as part of the ongoing MPC arrangements for dealing with cases. Another individual continues to receive care at KEMH while a second was discharged from the hospital last week. KEMH now has a COVID-19 pod where patients can come for assessments by a Doctor.
Anyone attending the pod is to park adjacent to 11 Thatcher Drive, which is opposite the Secretariat and Attorney General's office, and walk to wait for a member of staff. There are directions painted on the ground and signs positioned for your guidance. This is the only route to access the pod, as the east end walkway from St Mary's Walk is not open to the public, The access road to the KEMH East Ward entrance is to be kept free from all parked cars except those visiting the COVID19 Pod.
In addition this entrance will be used for the delivery and storage of additional oxygen supplies. FIG staff MUST NOT smoke around FIG premises in this area. This is with immediate effect.
Remember: If you feel unwell with flu-like symptoms and are worried you might have COVID-19. phone the Hospital on 28000. Staff will provide advice. DO NOT come to KEMH directly.
WIDER ECONOMIC MEASURES
Members will consider a package of measures tomorrow that will address issues being faced by businesses and households.
The Chief Executive and the Director of Policy and Economic Development will make an announcement tomorrow, Friday 17 April
QUARANTINE REQUIREMENTS
With a southbound Airbridge due to arrive tomorrow, we are emphasising to ALL travellers arriving that it is vitally important that you and your relatives or family understand and follow guidance on self isolation that specifically applies to you.
Under guidance released April 7 by the Government, new arrivals are in category called Quarantine.
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.
So you are self-isolating for the protection of others.
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.
LATAM SERVICES
Further to previous announcements regarding the LATAM service to Sao Paulo, it has been agreed between the Falkland Islands Government and LATAM to continue the suspension of the Wednesday schedule until 14 May 2020.
Another review will take place at the end of this month to review the status of the global and local pandemic status, the effect on long haul international travel, and in particular demand and reconnections to the United Kingdom & Europe.
There are no further updates yet on the Saturday schedule Mount Pleasant-Punta Arenas-Santiago. This service is suspended until 2 May. Further updates will be published as soon as more information is available.
AIRPORT TRAVEL FOR CIVILIANS
We would like to advise that all inbound and outbound Stanley based civilian passengers must be booked onto approved commercial airport transport for travel to and from MPC. Please contact
HEALTH
KEMH has put into effect its well-developed plans for handling COVID-19 cases.Patients requiring emergency treatment of any sort including respiratory, and cold like symptoms are asked to contact the hospital on 28000 and discuss their condition with a member of the clinical staff who will then advise. Routine GP and Dental appointments have been suspended. Those affected will be contacted by KEMH.
The Pharmacy is able to take prescription requests. But please do NOT come to the Pharmacy solely for the purpose of ordering a prescription, nor if you have COVID-19 like symptoms. Please either e-mail
WHERE TO FIND HELP
There are many sources of help, support or advice that you can reach out to during these uncertain times. If you have any concerns or queries regarding financial matters, welfare or safeguarding concerns for yourself, your family or someone you know, please contact Social Services on 27296. They operate a 24-hour service and an after-office hours you can call on 28100. Issues can also be raised by contacting KEMH and its CPN Service. You can also call the Early Help Service for advice or support on 52281 or
Alternatively, if you are worried about something or fearful for your safety or are concerned about a friend or neighbour, you can also reach Social Services by writing your name (or remain anonymous), phone number or email address on a piece of paper with a safe time to call and drop it into one a number of collection boxes in Stanley and they will get back to you at the time you ask. These boxes are at
- The Chandlery
- The West Store
- The Kelper Stores
- IJS Reception
You can also use these boxes to make suggestions on how we, as professionals, can help you through these times of uncertainty. All suggestions will be looked at and answers given if required.
YOUR WELLBEING
It is understandable if you are worried about your safety and that of your loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Local support is available as a 7-day service from the emotional wellbeing team at KEMH on 28082.
You may also find the following contacts helpful:
Samaritans (UK based charity): 51515 or email
NSPCC: 28888
Citizens Advice Bureau: 55355
EDUCATION CHILDCARE
The Education Department is providing childcare for the children of essential key workers to enable them to go to work. Parents in this category have been contacted directly.
The emergency childcare remains open during the school holidays. Schools and playgrounds remain closed. For queries, please call 27294.
CURRENT GUIDANCE ON ESSENTIAL WORK CATEGORIES
We are currently advising everyone to reduce all non-essential activities until further notice; everyone should stay at home where they can, and work from home where possible. Essential activities, at this stage, include critical and key work, where this cannot be done from home. Essential work categories are available on our fig.gov.fk/covid-19 website under the 26 March update. If you are unclear about where your function or activities sit please contact the Secretariat on 28450.
HOW TO ACCESS EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE SUPPORT PACKAGE
The Falkland Islands Government’s support package announced on 25 March 2020 is for private sector employers with employees, as well as the self-employed who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government is doing this to reinforce and support the strong public health action which the Falkland Islands Government is taking to protect the population and minimise the social and economic impact of this challenging issue.
How to apply – Application forms along with other guidance are available through:
Falkland Islands Government - www.fig.gov.fk/covid-19
Falkland Islands Development Corporation - www.fidc.co.fk/library/covid-19
If you need assistance filling out the forms, contact Sian Davies, Business Development Officer, at FIDC telephone 51211.
VOLUNTEERING
The Falkland Islands Government are looking for members of the public to join the Community Volunteers to help those who are currently self-isolating. Vicky Collier is the Volunteer Coordinator.
If you are interested in being a volunteer, email
- Contact details
- What would you like to volunteer for
- Any particular skills you can offer
- If you are happy for your contact details to be shared
If you are in self-isolation or know someone who is that may need support contact Vicky on
A REMINDER ON HOME WASTE
The public are reminded that all household waste should be bagged and sealed and then placed in your outdoor bins. Any excess or overflow of waste will not be collected by the refuse personnel. However, members of the public will have the opportunity to dispose of this excess waste by placing their bin bags into the refuse truck themselves during the bin collection.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding the disposal of household waste then please contact the PWD Maintenance Manager on 27178 or 53900 or email
FIGO SERVICES
While the Falkland Islands Government Office in London is closed all staff are working from home to help all Islanders in the UK, Falkland Islands organisations, FIG, and anyone traveling to and from the Islands. Please do not hesitate to contact them:
For Airbridge – Please contact our Travel Co-Ordinator Teryn Joshua on either 07984 096 726 or
For Medical – Please contact our Medical Co-Ordinator Gemma Clayphan on 07399 163140 or
For Students – Please contact the Deputy Representative Michael Betts on
For all other queries regarding COVID-19 or any other issues, we can be reached via 020 7222 2542 (message will provide a range of contact information) or
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Executive Council is meeting regularly to consider response and make other policy related to the COVID-19 response. MLAs are also meeting regularly to consider COVID19 related matters.
HELP US FIGHT COVID-19
What to do if you feel unwell and are worried you might have COVID-19.
If you have flu-like symptoms, phone the Hospital on 28000. Staff will provide advice. DO NOT come to KEMH directly. The symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- a cough
- a high temperature
- sore throat
- shortness of breath
- aches and pains in muscles and joints
But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu.
Please remember the importance of good public health hygiene measures:
- Always cough and sneeze into a tissue and dispose of the tissue safely in a bin and wash your hands afterwards. If you do not have a tissue, sneeze and cough into the crook of your elbow.
- If you are unwell with any infectious illness, please act responsibly and stay away from people and crowds and isolate yourself as much as possible.
- Avoid close contact with people who appear unwell and avoid sharing personal items.
- Wash your hands regularly with soap and water for 20 seconds or use a disinfectant, especially after coughing and sneezing, and always before