02 February 2022

COVID-19 Public Update

KEMH TESTING

• Total number of swab tests taken and processed to date: 8,632
• Total number of swabs taken but not yet tested: 1
• Total number of positive test results since 3 April 2020: 89
• 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

The Falkland Islands Infectious Diseases Control (Coronavirus, Quarantine) Regulations 2021 remain in place until 8 August 2022 (unless revoked sooner). Arrangements are reviewed regularly and any changes to quarantine measures will be determined by the Executive Council. Please ensure you know our legal requirements, should you be required to quarantine in the Falkland Islands: https://www.falklands.gov.fk/covid-19/quarantine

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOUTHBOUND AND NORTHBOUND PASSENGERS

CONVALESCENT CASES (SOUTHBOUND)

Convalescent cases are where someone has had an active Covid-19 infection within the past 90 days and has fully recovered – they are not a public health risk. Previously, convalescent cases wishing to travel southbound on the airbridge were required both to provide proof of their previous infection as well as undertake a medical assessment in the UK with timings of their disease and symptom history.

However, since 19 January 2022, convalescent cases are now only required to provide evidence of their positive results, in the form of a copy of their notification message to UK government, although other examples may also be acceptable on a case by case basis.

If you believe that you might test positive due to being a convalescent case, you must contact your booking agent and the KEMH medical team, by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

To travel, passengers need to be either 10 days post-infection in symptomatic cases, with at least four days free of symptom, or 14 days post-infection in cases where the person did not experience any symptoms at all – whichever is the longer.

ICD5 FORM IS A LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR PASSENGERS (SOUTHBOUND)

We are seeing increasing numbers of inbound passengers failing to complete and submit their ICD5 forms at least 72 hours prior to arrival in the Falkland Islands. It is vital that people complete this form as it outlines where you intend to quarantine once in the Islands and also provides a contact number, should KEMH or RFIP need to you contact you urgently.

If you fail to provide the information requested you may commit a criminal offence under the Infectious Diseases Control (Coronavirus, Quarantine) Regulations 2021 for which you can be fined up to £2000 or imprisoned for up to 3 months.

NEW RULES FOR FULLY VACCINATED PEOPLE FROM 11 FEBRUARY (NORTHBOUND)

The UK government has advised that, from 4am on 11 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 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 before travel.

According to the UK government website (as of 2 February 2022), 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/government/news/uk-open-for-travel-with-all-restrictions-removed-for-eligible-vaccinated-arrivals

SWAB BOOKING PRIOR TO TRAVELLING (NORTHBOUND)

If you require a Covid-19 swab prior to travelling outside of the Falkland Islands, then you must inform the KEMH 10 days before travel.

To organise a swab, you must email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the heading “Travel Swab” and include the following information:

1. Your full name, address and date of birth
2. A contact number that KEMH can call you on
3. The date you will be leaving the Islands
4. The country you are travelling to AND the requirements of that country (i.e. swab must be taken within 72 hours of departure)

KEMH will then contact you to arrange an appointment and will call with your results.

TRAVELLING ACROSS THE UNITED KINGDOM (NORTHBOUND) 

Please be reminded that, as health is a devolved issue, there are different rules in operation across different parts of the UK. Passengers travelling northbound on the airbridge are advised to check both the UK government website (for rules on entry into England) as well as the government website for their ultimate destination.

If you are travelling to England, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-to-england-from-another-country-during-coronavirus-covid-19

If you are travelling to Wales, visit: https://gov.wales/rules-international-travel-and-wales-coronavirus

If you are travelling to Scotland, visit: https://www.gov.scot/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-international-travel-quarantine/

If you are travelling to Northern Ireland, visit: https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-advice

MEDEVAC UPDATE

As the community will know, it continues to be difficult to arrange for people to receive care and treatment outside of the Islands, due to the number of hospital beds in use by Covid-19 patients in other countries. Additionally, the Uruguayan and Chilean governments both now require all emergency medevac patients to provide the dates of their Covid-19 vaccinations.

More information on this can be found by visiting the Uruguayan government website:
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/uruguay/entry-requirements or the Chilean government website: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/chile/entry-requirements.

Anyone who has not yet been vaccinated may wish to consider this new 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

VACCINATION UPDATE

The KEMH is pleased to confirm that the second dose of the Moderna vaccine will also be rolled out to children aged 12-15 on Thursday 4 February at FICS. This dose is for any child who received their first dose before the end of 2021. The vaccine will also be available for:

1. Young people who have turned 12 years old after the 10 February 2021
2. Those who declined the first vaccination but would now like to be vaccinated
3. Any young person who was away, unwell or for any other reason missed their first vaccination.

Parental consent is required for those aged 12-15 who are receiving their first dose.

The next monthly Covid-19 update for the Falkland Islands will be on 2 March 2022.