St Helena Island, situated in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean, has remained completely COVID-free to date with no reported cases since the global pandemic took hold last year. This week the island announced that over 95 per cent of its adult population is now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with 98 per cent having received the first dose completing the vaccination programme ahead of most of the world.
By the end of April, most of the adult population of 3,708 had been fully vaccinated with the Oxford AstraZeneca Vaccine. Since 2020 the weekly flights from the UK were reduced to every five weeks due to world lockdowns and border closures. However, life for the locals, known as ‘Saints’, continued as normal on the sub-tropical Island, with very few restrictions and no need for social distancing, masks or lockdowns.
St Helena government repealed immigration and travel restrictions with effect from April, and the tourism providers on island as well as the locals are preparing to welcome international visitors to the island once again. The governor of St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, Philip Rushbrook, said in a statement that it has been a privilege to oversee a comprehensive vaccination programme on St Helena.
He mentioned that since the onset of the global pandemic, the island has remained totally COVID-19 free and now that the population is fully vaccinated they are looking forward to a continuation of that status. He informed that approximate monthly flights from London Stansted are operational and authorities are hoping to welcome British travellers who wish to enjoy a little bit of sub-tropical paradise on St Helena after a tough year in the UK.
Tags: Covid-19, St Helena Island
