COVID1 9 IN NEWS GALAPAGOS
© Nigel Puttick
GALAPAGOS
I
t was a shock, if not a surprise, when COVID-19 reached the Galapagos Islands. The World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of the disease a pandemic on 11 March 2020 and shortly after, on 14 March, Ecuador shut its borders to the world. Flights to Galapagos were stopped almost immediately but the country confirmed its first cases on 18 March. A curfew was introduced on the Islands between 14:00 and 5:00 to try to reduce the potential spread of the disease and the Islands went into lockdown. Sadly, by 23 March the first four cases were confirmed in Galapagos thought to be residents who had returned from
6
GALAPAGOS MATTERS
Guayaquil on the mainland. There were worries that the fragile health system on Galapagos would be overwhelmed. Usually anyone with severe health issues is flown to the mainland. Thankfully the cases increased slowly. By 10 April, the government reported 10 confirmed cases in Galapagos – six on San Cristobal, three on Santa Cruz and one on Isabela. Two Galapagueños were also reported to be ill on the mainland. Of these 12, there were two deaths – one in Santa Cruz and one on the mainland. By 1 May, 107 cases were confirmed, including 57 cases on three boats moored within the Galapagos Marine Reserve. Residents from
the mainland were starting to be repatriated but no one was allowed to fly without testing negative for the disease. By 4 June the cases had only risen by another 14, including cases on another two boats and accordingly, the curfew was relaxed to 21:00 – 5:00. Sadly, despite the precautions being taken, a further case was found on San Cristobal on 12 June and five more on Santa Cruz on 18 June in people who had returned on repatriation flights. Tourist sites re-opened in mid-July and, at the time of writing, there are plans for flights and cruises to resume in August 2020, however this is subject to change.
