22 July 2020
COVID-19 Public Update
KEMH TESTING
1816 tests have now been processed, with no positive results received for over 80 days.
NEW QUARANTINE GUIDANCE ISSUED TO ARRIVING PASSENGERS
Following the introduction of Quarantine Regulations, a new document is being issued to provide simple guidance on how to meet the requirements of quarantine:
The law requires that all individuals arriving in the Falkland Islands must quarantine for a period of 14 days. The quarantine requirements are set out in the Infectious Diseases Control (Coronavirus, Quarantine) Regulations 2020. Failure to comply with the Regulations is a criminal offence for which you can be fined up to £2000, or imprisoned for up to 3 months. In order to satisfy these requirements, suitable accommodation is required for you to quarantine in.
There are some simple steps to decide on whether your accommodation is suitable for you to quarantine in:
If you live alone, quarantine at home.
If you share a home and can effectively self-isolate from household members, then quarantine at home. Effective self-isolation means you need to be able to live separately from the others in the same house:
- 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 share a home and CANNOT effectively self-isolate from household members, then either:
Contact FIG who will facilitate the provision of alternative suitable accommodation for those individuals required to quarantine.
OR
If you make the personal choice to stay together as a household and cannot effectively self-isolate, then in the interests of protecting friends, family and the community as a whole you should all follow the quarantine guidance together as a household, and isolate yourselves from the wider population for the 14-day quarantine period.
This information is being issued alongside a supporting document from the Chief Medical Officer providing guidance on undertaking quarantine at home.
REMINDER ON WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE ILL
The KEMH would like to remind everyone that should you have a cold or flu-like illness, or any gastrointestinal illness, then please stay at home; do not go to work or school.
If you are unwell with any viral-type illness, KEMH ask that you call them on 28000 but DO NOT come to the hospital. Members of staff will provide advice to you on the phone. A reminder that the symptoms of COVID-19 are:
- A new or worsening cough
- A high temperature
- Shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Sneezing and runny nose
- Temporary loss of taste smell
SUPPORT SCHEME CLARIFICATION
FIG are aware of a number of recent questions as to what support may be available to employers/employees/the self-employed when individuals have been requested by KEMH to self-isolate and are waiting to receive their swab results.
The Treasury is pleased to confirm it is continuing to process and pay claims for qualifying individuals under the job retention “furlough” scheme and the income supplement scheme for the self-employed.
If you require any advice on how best to apply for support or whether you may be eligible, please email
SURVEY ON RESPONSE TO COVID-19
The Falkland Islands Government would like to remind the public of the ongoing survey to gather views from across the community to explore how Covid-19 and the response to a potential epidemic has affected people’s day to day lives. The reason we want to hear from you is so that we can be better prepared to respond to a possible future outbreak, help make sure our response is appropriate, and understand and address the impacts on people.
To help make sure that we gather as wide a range of views as possible, the Government has launched a survey to explore how Covid-19 has affected you.
The survey aims to capture statistical data, however, if you have any comments you wish to include please email them to
All these results will be used to help us:
- Understand where the biggest Covid-19 impacts have been and who has felt them
- Tackle any problems you have felt as a result of Government actions
- Improve what we do if the risk of Covid-19 increases in the Falkland Islands
The survey questions will be available until Friday 7 August:
- Online or to download on www.fig.gov.fk/covid-19/survey
- In hardcopy from the Post Office, KEMH, West Store, Chandlery, Leisure Centre and Community Library
If you would like a copy of the survey in Spanish, Filipino or Shona, please contact us.
If you are interested in taking part in a community workshop or would like to share your thoughts with us one to one, please contact the PA to the Director of Emergency Services, Rhiannon Didlick-Smith on