With regret, few days ago we received a news that the staff of the French DDU Base in Antarctica was hit by Covid 19. We don’t know if among them there is also our radio amateur friend David FT4YM, who we connected and greeted just few days ago, but in any case WAP is close in spirit to these friends of ours!
Information did come from the Official blog of the Adèlie Land District in Antarctica, relayed also by HuffPost. Here the report:
Scientists and technical staff at the French Base Dumont d’Urville, WAP FRA-Ø1 in Antarctica (see pic aside), were infected with Covid-19 even though they had been spared the pandemic throughout the year.
The Terre-Adélie district chief, Jean-Philippe Guérin, announced on Tuesday November 8, that 20 of the 21 members of the Team of experts have been infected.
The virus is suspected to have come through a carrier present in the first plane of the season on October 25, Covid made a sensational entry into the world of the Dumont D’Urville Base. In just two short weeks, 20 out of 21 winterers contracted it in its symptomatic form. No severe form at this stage, but great fatigue, temperature, runny noses, itchy throats, coughing lungs.
Thanks and credit to: https://terreadelie-antarctique.blogspot.com/2022/11/la-ta-72-covidee.html
WAP wishes the whole Team the best of wishes for a speedy recovery and a quick return to normal activity to everyone.