05 January 2022
COVID-19 Public Update
KEMH TESTING
- Total number of swab tests taken and processed to date: 8,528
- Total number of swabs taken but not yet tested: 3
- Total number of positive test results since 3 April 2020: 84
- Number of current positive test results within the Islands: 4
QUARANTINE
The Falkland Islands new Infectious Diseases Control (Coronavirus, Quarantine) Regulations 2021 is currently in place until 8 August 2022 (unless revoked sooner). Arrangements are reviewed on a regular basis and decisions on changes are made by the Executive Council. The next ExCo meeting is on Tuesday 18 January 2022. Please ensure that you are aware of the legal requirements should you be required to undertake quarantine in the Falkland Islands. You can find this information online: https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/quarantine
VACCINATION UPDATE
On Monday 17 January 2022, the KEMH will be holding a vaccine clinic in the FIDF club, for anyone who has not yet received either one of their first two doses or subsequent booster dose. To receive your second main dose, this must take place no less than 28 days after your first dose; for a booster dose you need to have received your second vaccination more than three months ago.
Please don’t forget that we have a dedicated frequently asked questions page on our website to address any queries you might have about vaccinations; please visit: https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/vaccinations/vaccine-faq
TRAVELLING OUTSIDE OF THE FALKLAND ISLANDS
KEMH would like to remind the public that if you require a Covid-19 swab to be undertaken prior to travelling outside of the Falkland Islands, then you must inform the KEMH 10 days before travel.
To organise a swab, you will need to email
- Full Name, Address and Date of Birth of individual requiring swab
- Contact number that KEMH can call you on
- Date you will be leaving the Islands
- Country you are travelling to AND the requirements of that country (i.e. swab must be taken within 72 hours of departure)
KEMH will contact you to arrange an appointment for you and will call to advise your results.
MEDEVAC UPDATE
As the community will know, it continues to be increasingly difficult to arrange for people to receive care and treatment outside of the Islands, due to a lack of hospital beds in use by Covid-19 patients in other countries. As the situation continues to evolve, management plans for emergency and critical care are changing regularly, and it is now the case that if a person requires an emergency medevac to South America, patients will be asked to provide the dates of their Covid-19 vaccinations. Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated may wish to consider this requirement, as not only is entry to other countries outside the control of the Falkland Islands, but in order to be considered effective, vaccinations must have been administered no less than 14 days prior to departure from the Falkland Islands.
TRIP2 AND BFSAI TRIP2 SCHEMES
Following the success of the initial Tourism Recovery Incentive Programme, a second phase of the programme is now underway. Both TRIP2 and BFSAI TRIP2 schemes are open to everyone ordinarily resident in the Falkland Islands and will run until 30 April 2022.
For more information on TRIP2, please visit https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/tourismscheme/trip-scheme
For more information on BFSAI TRIP2, please visit: https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/tourismscheme/bfsai-trip-scheme
COVID-19 WEBSITE
Please don’t forget to check our dedicated website for the latest information on how the Falkland Islands Government is responding to Covid-19; including questions about travel, testing and quarantine. To date over 40,000 visitors have accessed the website and it is still the best resource for Covid-19 support; please visit https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/
The next monthly Covid-19 update for the Falkland Islands will be on 2 February 2022.