MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falkland Islands: one positive antibody test in March, but no coronavirus results for over sixty days

Hospital staff “have worked closely with the individual concerned and have determined that it is likely that they were exposed to the virus earlier in the year”

The Falkland Islands government has confirmed that one individual has tested positive for Coronavirus antibodies. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Rebecca Edwards, said that it is likely that the individual was exposed in late February or early March, and exposure is thought to have taken place on a fishing vessel.

The government said that hospital staff, “have worked closely with the individual concerned and have determined that it is likely that they were exposed to the virus earlier in the year. People close to the individual have also been tested and have all returned negative results.”

The government emphasized that the result is no cause for concern, adding that the result does not mean the individual has the virus or can transmit it.

Dr Edwards said: “That we have had this positive test result indicates that the Falklands were exposed to the virus early on in the pandemic. However, the fact that so far this is an isolated result shows that the actions that the community have taken over the past few months have been very effective in limiting exposure to and spread of the virus, and reinforces how important it is that people follow Government advice.

Surveillance swabbing shows that the virus is not currently present in the community, so this result is not something that people should be concerned about.”

So far only one out of 315 antibody tests has returned a positive result. Some 1197 normal tests have now been processed, with no positive results for over 60 day. (PN).-