Antarctica has been struck with COVID-19, which means every continent has been subjected to the virus.

The Bernardo O’Higgins research base on Antarctica, which holds some of Chile’s armed forces, has seen a breakout of the virus after taking many preventative measures to keep it out of the continent.

Two soldiers at the base started showing symptoms of COVID-19 in mid-December, and it was just announced this week of this discovery. The two disembarked from Chile’s Punta Arenas port, according to the Chilean Navy, CNN reports.

An Army Press officer explained that this is when it all started.

Thirty-six people have tested positive for COVID-19, with 26 army personnel and 10 contractors, according to Reuters.

Those individuals are quarantining and have been monitored since their diagnosis, health authorities say. They were also evacuated back to Chile to recover.

To prevent the spread of the virus any further, the entire O’Higgins base is under a preventative quarantine.

The Chilean Navy also reported that they found three individuals with the virus. One of the Navy’s ships cruised through this area of Antarctica between the dates of Nov. 27 and Dec. 10. There were 208 crew members on board.

Research projects have been canceled for the rest of 2020.

Icebergs naturally break off from Antarctica into the ocean, but climate change has accelerating the process
Icebergs naturally break off from Antarctica into the ocean, but climate change has accelerating the process BRITISH ANTARCTIC SURVEY / Ali ROSE
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