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Another spectacular Aurora last night for those who put their names down to be called overnight. This afternoon a debrief between ship and voyage management regarding Davis operations. Now it is our pleasure to hand over the keyboard to Dr Catherine (ship's doctor), who provides the bulk of today's sitrep on account of having lost a bet with voyage management over a table tennis match.
'On the medical front, we return our thoughts briefly to COVID-19, and a modest campaign of COVID-19 boosters currently underway for all those eligible and consented aboard the vessel. Through careful planning, enhanced preventative measures and hard work by all expeditioners, crew and staff at Head Office, we have - as verified by a regular regime of testing - managed to keep COVID-19 out of our Antarctic Program thus far. The COVID-19 negative status of the ship's contingent affords us the ability to relax the enhanced preventative measures initially in place, whilst continuing standard shipboard practices of regular temperature testing, hand hygiene and daily health checks whilst enjoying shipboard company and the ad hoc community which has developed these past weeks.
Currently occupying our new medical facility is Mark, not a patient, but a 360 degree VR camera, operated by our resident documentary team, taking in all of what the new medical facility has to offer. With a medical capability similar to what we had on the Aurora Australis, what this new ship and facility provides is space. No longer are we confined to 2 multipurpose rooms, but instead we are lucky enough to have a dedicated consulting room, separate scrub/lab and operating theatre, a resuscitation room and 3 ward beds. We always hope that it will never be used, but are confident that this medical facility provides the optimal environment to be able to provide medical care, when needed, whilst sailing on the ocean.
Once the weekend is over, we will return to daily Lay Surgical Assistant Training (LSA) with the incoming Macquarie Island team taught by Dr Dane and preparations for medical resupply and equipment swap outs. Until then, due to the amazing food our chefs prepare, we will eat too much and then try to compensate by attending the gym or playing table tennis or just walking laps of deck.
Regards,
Catherine
(courtesy of a momentary lapse of judgement during a table tennis match)
Regards,
James & Brendan
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.