Precautions made for last virusfree region
The first U.S. flight into Antarctica following months of winter darkness arrived Monday with crews taking extra precautions to keep out the coronavirus.
Antarctica is the only continent without the virus, and there is a global effort to make sure incoming scientists and workers don’t bring it with them.
The U.S. Air Force flight left from the gateway city of Christchurch, New Zealand, carrying 106 passengers and crew. The new arrivals will swap out with skeleton crews who have spent the Southern Hemisphere winter in Antarctica.
The crews were isolated for five weeks in New Zealand in advance of the journey, undergoing several virus tests. Upon their arrival at McMurdo Station, the facility entered Code Yellow, meaning everybody will wear masks for two weeks.
Officials say unusual teamwork among the United States, China, Russia and other countries took place this year to ensure they keep the virus out. All are planning reduced numbers of researchers at their stations.