Updated COVID-19 management plan for the U.S. Antarctic Program 2023-24 season

As announced in March 2023, the Office of Polar Programs (OPP) has undertaken a multi-step process to establish protocols to manage the continuing risks presented by COVID-19 to deployers of the U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP).

The protocols have been developed based on community feedback and recommendations presented by a subcommittee of the Advisory Committee of the Office of Polar Programs. The subcommittee report and a full response can be found here. Following review of the recommendations, NSF developed the season protocols which are in addition to the health and hygiene protocols (e.g., handwashing stations, cleaning regimens) already in place across USAP.

For this season USAP will focus efforts on identifying and managing individuals who are symptomatic and require clinic-level care. The objective for the season is to provide care to those individuals, either in situ or through timely medical evacuation, to avoid serious, negative health outcomes. Four principles have been identified to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to respond to infections throughout the season: Prevention, Monitoring, Treatment, and Response.

Read the complete protocols for details.