COVID-19 Update

The situation in Hawai‘i remains stable. New cases continue to accumulate but at a rate which is not increasing despite the reopening of Hawai`i to visitors from the mainland and Japan. We continue to have a reduced staff presence on Maunakea, and just completed the major telescope maintenance shutdown with a crew of only five staff members. Science operations resumed post-maintenance shutdown but have been impacted by the onset of winter weather. 

In Chile the situation regarding COVID-19 has gradually improved. Gemini-South has returned to regular observations since October 20th. The telescope and its instrumentation have been working well and the weather has been favorable, so good progress has been made in the observing queue.