The Government of the Falkland Islands reported on Tuesday that another six positive cases of COVID 19 cases have been identified, following the processing of a large batch of test results that were sent to UK.
The King Edward Memorial Hospital is currently dealing with a critically ill child, who is suspected to have COVID-19. Until this is confirmed by test, this remains a matter of clinical judgment. As a result of this, the Falkland Islands Government is moving its response to the next stage, in accordance with our Infectious Disease Plan and other preparations. Our thoughts go out to the child, the child’s family and friends.
The Falklands weekly Penguin News this week published a summary of releases, decisions, recommendations and overall strategy of the Islands facing, as in the rest of the world the challenge of Covid 19. The big news is that the Falklands until this week, had no positive tested cases of the virus and that so far there is sufficient health care capacity and expertise to face the situation.
The Government of the Falklands updated its advice on travelling to the Islands, in response to a further change in the global COVID-19 situation. The Italian Government this week announced emergency measures across the entire country in response to the virus.
Executive Council has approved a plan that will help provide accommodation for workers who are needed to deliver the Government’s ambitious capital program and progress strategic capital projects over the next five years.
The Falkland Islands Government operating surplus now stands at over £38 million, Standing Finance Committee members were informed this week. The large surplus is due to favorable corporation tax receipts, and was arrived at by deducting operating costs of £68 million from the year’s income, which is £106 million.
To help people in the Falkland Islands to get fitter and healthier, the local hospital will be running a ‘Falklands Obesity Orientation Day’ on Monday 9 April, it was announced by Gilbert House.
The Falkland Islands announced that all Health & Social Services sites are to be Smoke Free from 1st February 2018. Following on from the ban on smoking in any Government property, the Health & Social Services Department are going one step further by banning cigars, cigarettes and any vaping devices from all Health & Social Services sites, starting from the 1st February 2018.
Relationships between medical professionals in Southern Chile and the Falkland Islands have been strengthened following a visit by the Islands’ radiographer to Punta Arenas.