With all the Antarctica coinkidinks, I'll toss these potential comms into the pile. I emphasized some of the phrases that most stood out to me. Others can probably do better or more…
COVID outbreak at Antarctic station among fully vaccinated researchersLIKE A HORROR MOVIE.
Unlike the film The Thing, none of the infected Belgian scientists have beenTRANSFORMED INTO BLOODTHIRSTY BEASTS.
ThePRINCESSElisabeth Polar Station in Antarctica in 2009.
Polar researchers in Antarctica have contracted COVID-19 despite being fully vaccinated and living ==MILES FROM CIVILIZATION.
TWO THIRDS OF THE TWENTY FIVE staff based at Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth Polar Station HAVE CAUGHT the virus, the Le Soir newspaper reported, proving THERE IS NO EXCAPE== from the global pandemic.
The outbreakTOOK HOLD DESPITEall staff passing multiple PCR tests, quarantining and living inONE OF THE MOST REMOTE PLACES IN THE WORLD.
The situation has echoes of the plot of John Carpenter’s 1982HORRORclassic The Thing, which was advertised on posters with the warning“MAN IS THE WARMEST PLACE TO HIDE.”
An alien life form infects workers on an Antarctic station in the cult sci-fi thriller starring Kurt Russell. Unlike the film, none of the infected Belgians have exhibited any severe symptoms – let alone been transformed into bloodthirsty beasts that can only beKILLED BY INCINERATION. All 25 researchers were fully vaccinated and one had a booster shot. Before leaving for the station, they had PCR tests in Belgium two hours before flying to South Africa.
In Cape Town they quarantined for 10 days and took another PCR test.
A further test was needed when leaving for Antarctica and a final one five days after that.
One person tested positive seven days after arriving at the station on Dec 14. The individual was placed in isolation but tests revealed two others had caught the virus.
All three left the station on Dec 23 but the virus has continued to spread.
It is thought to be the omicron variant because that is responsible for 99 per cent of infections in South Africa.
There are two emergency doctors at the station, whichWILL NOT ALLOW ANY NEW ARRIVALSuntil the virus dissipates.
Belgium’s Polar Secretariat has now shortened the research season and the remaining staff will stay at the base until at least Jan 12.
https://nationalpost.com/news/world/covid-outbreak-at-remote-antarctic-station-among-fully-vaccinated-researchers-like-horror-movie-plot