
The next phase of Covid vaccinations in the Falklands is set to begin on 23 March, the Falkland Islands Government confirmed on Tuesday. The upcoming vaccination round will see people who received their first dose between 8-12 February receive their second dose of the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab.

The Falkland Islands Government this week published the legal framework to establish the Falkland Islands Environment Trust: a mechanism designed to collect funds and award grants to support persons engaged in “conservation, management, and enhancement of the environment.”

The Falkland Islands Government has received its second batch of Covid-19 vaccines, supplied by the UK government. These 2,200 doses arrived today via the South Atlantic Airbridge and are of the same Oxford/AstraZeneca type as the first batch received at the beginning of the month.

The public works program in the Falkland Islands is in full swing, and this includes not only the new port or housing projects but also improvements in Gilbert House.

The Falkland Islands hospital, KEMH, is inviting people aged between 45 and 49 to receive their Covid-19 vaccination this Tuesday, 16 February at the Falkland Islands Defence Force, FIDF, Hall in Stanley, between 09:00 am and 12:00 pm.

The Government of the Falkland Islands in coordination with BFSAI, and based on medical and public health advice, including restricting access to Mount Pleasant Complex, MPC (*), with the exception of essential travel, consider that the Covid-19 cluster at MPC has been contained.

The Falkland Islands government is inviting all those over 50, and would like to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and have not already attended the vaccination program, please come to the FIDF Hall between 9am and 11.30am this Friday 12 February morning.

The Falkland Islands government has reviewed and emphasized the Declaration of Emergency restriction movements, under regulations 11 and 12, which remain in full force, particularly referred to MPC and dependencies access, and possible essential travel.

With an economy growing sustainedly 3,9% annually, full employment, and with ambitious public works and housing projects in the books, the ongoing problem of the lack of tradespeople in the Falkland Islands has become more evident and challenging. Penguin News invited MLA Barry Elsby to comment on the situation in an interview this week.

The Falkland Islands Government, FIG, announced on Tuesday, February 9 the latest Covid-19 swabbing results which indicate that the total number of positive tests, since 3 April 2020, reached 53, of which 15 continue to be currently positive, all under quarantine, with an only person in the hospital.