COVID-19 Update

Vaccinations on Hawai‘i island are approaching 60% (first shot). What appeared to be an improving situation for case counts on the island at the last report abruptly reversed itself due to an outbreak at the Hilo Correctional Facility, which has produced more than 200 cases in the past few weeks. At the time of writing, this large cluster has not yet produced a lot of community cases but we continue to monitor counts and infection rates closely. Operations at Gemini North continue largely unchanged, with a reduced day crew on the mountain and night crew separated between two control rooms at the Hilo Base Facility. We are preparing for a somewhat expanded presence in the Hilo Base Facility building in the coming month. 

In Chile, vaccination efforts continue to progress well but the downward trend of cases has somewhat reversed in the past month. This has prompted new control measures by the government elsewhere in the country. At present, restrictions in La Serena remain at the same level as in the past few months. Telescope operations continue as before with a strongly restricted presence on the summit and in the offices as the night team continues working from separate rooms.