Falkland Islands

• Friday, April 24th 2020 - 08:45 UTC

  Falklands faces fishing markets paralyzed on COVID-19 impact

  

  The impact of COVID-19 on the seafood market and industry operations has been severe, confirmed fishing industry executives and a spokesperson for the Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association (FIFCA).

• Friday, April 24th 2020 - 08:42 UTC

  Falklands/Chile commercial airlink will remain suspended until June

  

  While the Atlantic Airbridge between the Falkland Islands and Brize Norton continues to service normally and is crucial for sending swab tests to labs in the UK, the two commercial flights to the Islands, one from Chile and the most recent from Brazil remain suspended.

• Friday, April 24th 2020 - 08:40 UTC

  Falklands' fishing companies must deal with higher costs and falling prices for produce

  

  The Falkland Islands Fishing Companies Association, FIFCA, Secretary James Bates said the sector faced difficulties and increased costs in the logistical and operational areas of the fishing businesses.

• Friday, April 24th 2020 - 08:13 UTC

  Falklands introduces significant restrictions on constitutional rights and movements for twelve months

  

  The Falkland Islands Executive Council considered this week two reports regarding further legislative proposals responding to the challenges posed by COVID-19. ExCo addressed the provisions put in place in the UK, including the Coronavirus Act 2020, and other laws.

• Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 09:15 UTC

  Falklands should be ready next week to test swabs in the Islands

  

  A COVID-19 analyzer and related equipment are scheduled to arrive in the Falkland Islands over the weekend, which means the prospect of much faster testing of the Islands' swabs for potential virus contagion, and without having to send them to the UK.

• Thursday, April 23rd 2020 - 08:59 UTC

  Falklands' government will buy unsold wool clip in support of producers

  

  The Falkland Islands government announced on Wednesday a support program for wool producers and their unsold clip in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. For that purpose, it has authorized the Department of Natural Resources to develop a program to purchase the unsold wool, in a one-time offer, with the price set at March 20.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2020 - 08:54 UTC

  Another MPC member tests positive for COVID-19; Falklands' building industry resumes this Wednesday

  

  The Falkland Islands government reported on Tuesday that the latest test results received by KEMH have shown one positive case for COVID-19 out of 18 swabs tested. The positive was for an individual at Mount Pleasant Complex, who is in isolation as part of the on-going MPC arrangements for dealing with cases.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2020 - 07:49 UTC

  South Georgia remains free of COVID-19; Grytviken closed to visitors until next August

  

  South Georgia remains free from COVID-19. The government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, GSGSSI, have implemented strict procedures to minimize the risk of exposure to the staff at South Georgia, and work continues in as normal a fashion as possible on the island.

• Wednesday, April 22nd 2020 - 07:40 UTC

  Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting scheduled for June suspended

  

  A Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place in the Rwandan capital Kigali in June has been postponed due to COVID-19, the organization said on Tuesday. A new date for the event, which takes place every two years, would be announced in due course, the body's London-based secretariat said in a statement.

• Tuesday, April 21st 2020 - 10:11 UTC

  Falklands planning to lift building industry restrictions on Wednesday

  

  The Falkland Islands Executive Council last Friday agreed in principle that construction activity on the Islands can resume this Wednesday, 22 April. However, Chief Executive Barry Rowland said the final decision would be subject to COVID-19 test swab results from the United Kingdom expected to be received this Tuesday 21 April.