The restrictions on travel between Stanley and Mount Pleasant Complex have been lifted, after Chief Medical Officer Dr Rebecca Edwards advised that the current risk from Covid is almost nil. Attorney General Simon Young has confirmed there is no longer any justification for limiting travel.
MLA Leona Roberts read a statement last Friday announcing the decision.

Restrictions relating to MPC personnel or those having visited MPC will also be lifted in respect of FIGAS and Workboat Services.

As of Friday June 19, for both FIG and BFSAI, there have been 981 tests; this includes surveillance swabbing undertaken over the past two weeks, during which there were no positive results.

This positive-free testing period was also a precondition for the further easing of restrictions by FIG from Friday for high-risk vulnerable individuals, hospitality businesses, the cinema and playparks. BFSAI have their own arrangements in place for MPC.

High-risk individuals should feel confident to finally be able to enjoy meeting friends and family without concern. If anyone feels anxious, overwhelmed or apprehensive about the easing of the restrictions, please contact the KEMH for help, guidance and support.

Executive Council has noted that the government will continue to provide relevant guidance about social distancing and good public health practices, as these remain important precautions should a case of Covid-19 occur. In addition to social distancing the suite of measures aimed to help control any potential spread of the virus includes strict hand and cough/sneeze hygiene, staying home and contacting the KEMH if you feel unwell with flu like symptoms, and ongoing surveillance swabbing.

In addition, KEMH is now ready for the first round of SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests, looking for antibodies to this virus, which causes Covid-19.

Members of the public who would like to have an antibody test taken can contact KEMH between 10am and 12 noon, Monday through to Friday, this week only, and leave their name and contact telephone number with the receptionist. A member of the clinical team will then contact the patient to discuss the reasons for requesting the antibody test and the suitability of undertaking the test. If a test is considered appropriate, you will be given a date and time for an appointment for the blood sample to be taken.

FIG have also been working with Workboat Services Ltd to formulate a plan for transferring potentially infected Covid patients from West Falkland and the islands to Stanley.

In life-critical situations it is possible for a patient to be transferred on the Concordia Bay ferry.

In the case of West Falkland, a patient who was unwell would be assessed by a medical practitioner, likely attending via FIGAS, and if transfer was deemed appropriate, the patient would then need to travel to the ferry head on West Falkland.

There they would be transferred into an ambulance and travel across Falkland Sound in the vehicle, with a member of the medical staff.

Work is ongoing to explore options for transportation in similar circumstances from the islands to Stanley via Concordia Bay.
FIGAS cannot be used to move potential COVID-19 patients.