Isolation for polar trip

Strict regimen for researchers

THIRTY- three expeditioners are set to depart Hobart for the start of the Australian Antarctic summer season after they serve two weeks’ pretrip isolation.

The team will arrive at Casey research station on November 7 in what will be the first of seven flights to Antarctica this summer involving 260 explorers — about half as many researchers than in recent years.

Australian Antarctic Division director Kim Ellis said the 33 expeditioners set for the first trip south had started compulsory isolation.

He said it was imperative COVID- 19 didn’t make its way to Antarctica — the only continent where a case has not been detected.

“On top of any government quarantine requirements when entering Tasmania, all our expeditioners will have a compulsory isolation period of two weeks in Hobart immediately before going south,” he said.

“This isolation requirement applies to all expeditioners whether they come from interstate or are already in Tasmania.

“The safety of our expeditioners living and working at Casey, Davis, Mawson and Macquarie Island research stations, and our staff in Tasmania, is top priority.”

Researchers will be COVID- tested three times before leaving.

AAD human resources manager Maree Riley said a range of support was being offered to the explorers during their two- week stay at Hobart’s Old Woolstore Hotel.

“A period of personal isolation can be challenging, but we’re doing our best to make this experience as positive as possible by providing care packages and access to exercise equipment,” Ms Riley said.

“In their rooms, expeditioners will be busy doing pre- departure training, but instead of the usual face- to- face sessions, training will be conducted online with computer equipment provided by the AAD.”

Mr Ellis said summer Antarctic activities would be scaled back with no major construction activities on Australian stations and science projects to be limited to automated data collection and wildlife monitoring.