Researcher associated with MOSAiC research project in the arctic has COVID-19

The journal Nature reported on March 11 that an individual working on the international scientific project called MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary Drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) has contracted COVID-19.

The affected individual is part of the airborne component of the project, and had attended a workshop in Bremerhaven, Germany, with other members of the aircraft team, on March 5. The airborne component of the project has since been delayed, as nearly two dozen others on the aircraft team have been placed in quarantine, under orders of the German health agencies. They have not yet joined the team on the intentionally ice-locked German research vessel Polastern.

COVID-19 has a long incubation time, and when that is combined with the close quarters on the ship, isolation efforts might not make a difference. In response all who join MOSAiC are tested twice for COVID-19 -before they leave their homes to travel to Svalbard, Norway to leave for the ship, and again before they leave.

The air mission, now delayed due to quarantine of team members, was supposed to fly on March 12 and planned to collect atmospheric data and information about what happens on the surface.

To refuel, the team would have needed to land near and interact with members of the ship, which could lead to virus spread, if additional members of the aircraft team do have COVID-19.

Mission co-coordinator Matthew Shupe said that the disruption to the study is minimal, although if the airborne mission is further delayed, they could have trouble seeing everything they want to capture.