02 March 2022
COVID-19 Public Update
KEMH TESTING
- Total number of swab tests taken and processed to date: 8,117
- Total number of swabs taken but not yet tested: 0
- Total number of positive test results since 3 April 2020: 114
- Number of current positive test results within the Islands: 5
NEW RULES FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE FROM 24 FEBRUARY (NORTHBOUND)
The UK government has advised that, from 24 February 2022, anyone who qualifies as fully vaccinated will not need to take a Covid-19 test before travelling to England or after they arrive; they will also not need to quarantine on arrival. However, passengers will still need to complete a passenger locator form 3 days before travel.
Anyone who does not qualify as fully vaccinated, will still need to book and pay for a Covid-19 PCR test to be taken after arrival, and will also still need to complete a passenger locator form 3 days before travel.
According to the UK government website, to qualify under the fully vaccinated rules you must have proof of full vaccination with a full course of an approved vaccine. You must also have had your final dose of the vaccine at least 14 days before you arrive in England. The day you had your final dose does not count as one of the 14 days.
Additionally, the proof of vaccination must have been issued by either:
- the UK vaccination programme
- the United Nations vaccine programme for staff and volunteers
- an overseas vaccination programme with an approved proof of vaccination for travel to the UK.
More information is available on the UK government website; please ensure you check this before you travel as arrangements are liable to change at short notice, as they have done throughout the pandemic: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/countries-with-approved-covid-19-vaccination-programmes-and-proof-of-vaccination
COMPASSIONATE CHARTER FLIGHT TO CHILE IN MARCH
The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) can confirm that it intends to charter a flight to Chile from the Falkland Islands on Saturday 19 March 2022, returning Saturday 9 April 2022. The flight will only stop in both Punta Arenas and Santiago on the outbound and return journeys.
Falkland Islands residents will be able to buy a ticket, providing they need to travel for one of the following reasons:
- To renew travel and/or identification documents
- To visit family that they have not seen for a long time, due to pandemic disruptions
- To manage other outstanding personal and/or health issues which have been impacted by Covid-19.
Passengers will be asked to confirm how they meet these criteria at the point of booking their ticket and will be permitted the normal luggage allowances. People wanting to travel for business purposes, or to take a holiday, will not be eligible for this compassionate charter flight; equally these flights will not carry freight.
The flight will be subject to the necessary permissions from authorities in order to operate, and we are working to secure these in order for people to be able to leave the Islands on compassionate grounds.
For questions about reservations, pricing and logistics, please contact International Tours and Travel, who are the government’s booking agents for this flight. Please call 22041 or email
Any passengers with children aged 5 – 11 years who may want their children to have their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine before travelling are asked to contact the KEMH on 28021 before 4pm on Thursday 3 March 2022.
VACCINATION UPDATE
The KEMH is pleased to confirm that a fourth dose of the Moderna vaccine will be rolled out to those aged 75. The location and timings will be released later this month, alongside the plans for patients living on West Falkland or on an Outer Island.
Children aged 5 – 11 years will be offered their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the KEMH over the weekend of 19 and 20 March. Parental consent is required for those children and forms will be sent to families in due course. Children living on West Falklands or an Outer Island will be included in the plans for the vaccination roll out for those aged 75 and over.
The next monthly Covid-19 update for the Falkland Islands will be on 6 April 2022.