Covid-19 in Antarctica

Antarctica, the only continent reported to be free of COVID-19, has now recorded its first cases on December 22, 2020. The 36 new infections include maintenance workers and people stationed at a Chilean research base, who have now returned to their original locations. Nevertheless, trying to keep the virus at bay comes with a cost. All major research projects in the Arctic have stopped, and consequently, there will be less research around the world because it is home to most of the world’s research bases. Antarctica currently has the world’s strongest winds and coldest temperatures and could be the perfect environment for spreading the coronavirus.