05 May 2021
COVID-19 Public Update
Welcome to May’s monthly Covid-19 update.
KEMH TESTING
Total number of swab tests taken and processed to date: 7,258
Total number of swabs taken but not yet tested: 1
Total number of positive test results since 3 April 2020: 63
Number of current positive test results within the Islands: 0
VACCINATION PROGRAMME UPDATE
King Edward VII Memorial Hospital is pleased to invite people who received their first dose of the vaccine before 12 April, to attend the Stanley Vaccination Centre at the FIDF Club for their second dose as follows:
Monday 17 May
- People aged 40+ 9am – 12pm
- People aged 34-39 1pm – 4pm
Tuesday 18 May
- People aged 28-33 9am – 12pm
- People aged 18-28 1pm – 4pm
Anyone who received their first dose after 12 April, will be contacted by KEMH in due course, to arrange their second dose.
The hospital would be grateful if, as previously, East Falkland residents could make their way into town for their second vaccination, as this would be very much appreciated. These residents can attend any session on either day.
Anyone who has only turned 18 since the launch of the vaccination programme, and who would also like to receive their first dose, is also invited to come along to the first session at the FIDF Hall on Monday 17 May between 9am and 12pm.
FIGAS and the travelling vaccination team are planning to travel to West Falkland and the Outer Islands on 19 May and details of this schedule will be published shortly.
New residents
If you are new to the Islands and wish to receive your first dose, then please ensure that you are registered with KEMH before attending the Stanley Vaccination Centre.
You can register in the following ways:
- Visit the hospital reception to complete your paperwork between 8am and 4:30pm
- Call 28000 to request that the paperwork is sent to your home address and post it back
- Email
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to request an electronic version of the paperwork, which can then be completed and returned via email
If you are new to the Islands and have already had your first dose then please contact
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
A full list of northbound and southbound travel requirements, can be found on the Falkland Islands Government’s Covid-19 website, please visit: www.fig.gov.fk/covid-19
- This includes pre-travel checklists, advice on transiting, and details of the penalties that passengers may incur on arrival into Brize Norton if they do not comply with requirements.
- To clarify a few further points on southbound travel:
- No one should be asked for proof of vaccination as this is not a standard check-in procedure, nor is it UK government policy
- Your proof of a negative Covid-19 test result must be in a name that is similar to the name displayed in your passport
- If your passport is in your maiden name, please ensure that your test is also in your maiden name, as otherwise you will need to carry your marriage certificate with you as proof
QUARANTINE
As a reminder, people arriving in the Falkland Islands, whether travelling by sea or air, must spend their first 14 days in quarantine and must not share their living accommodation or any facilities with anyone who is not in quarantine with them. While in quarantine, individuals will receive at least one welfare call and will be asked to participate in our surveillance swabbing programme, which involves being swabbed on three separate occasions to make sure that people are free of infection before they leave quarantine. More information on quarantine regulations are available on the FIG website.
MEDEVAC SERVICES
KEMH would like to remind the public that, due to the Covid-19 situation in mainland South America, it remains increasingly difficult to arrange medevac services both in and out of the Falkland Islands. Chile has now closed its borders and hospitals in neighbouring Uruguay are also under extreme pressure. As a result, people are reminded to take extra care if they undertake any activities which might put them at risk of significant injury. Anything that the public can do to help reduce the demand for medevac services really helps KEMH and the hospitals that it works with. This situation does not impact on planned medical treatment for people travelling to the UK, although KEMH continues to work closely with the NHS, in the event that a further resurgence of Covid-19 in the UK may impact on these plans.
COMMERCIAL AIRLINKS
Commercial airlinks with Chile and Brazil remain suspended and will not be in operation until 1 October 2021. While operators may still enable online bookings beyond this date, no decision has been taken as to when flights will resume. The situation is under regular review given the complexities surrounding the pandemic, in particular travel restrictions, global border controls and the new variants of Covid-19.
The next monthly Covid-19 update for the Falkland Islands will be on 2 June 2021.