Cut off from the world: One year without any case, they will not receive tourists again

Easter Islands Referendum / Photo Twitter screenshot

Residents of Easter Island, who have been cut off from the world for more than a year and a half by the coronavirus pandemic, voted in a referendum against reopening borders to tourists. writes TRT. 

There were 649 votes against the opening of the island, and for there were 320, said on social media the local community Mau Henua, which manages the Rapa Nui National Park.  

972 people took part in the voting - less than 20% of the population went to the polls. The result of the vote is not binding and the final decision will be made by the Chilean health authorities.  

The islanders have not seen tourists since March 2020 and since the introduction of the state of emergency and health restrictions.  

Corona hell in Chile 

Chile has more than 1,6 million cases of infection and more than 36.000 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic. Easter Islands has so far registered eight cases of covid-19 and no new cases since September 2020, and no deaths during the pandemic, according to official data.  

About 73 percent of Easter Island residents, 3.600 kilometers east of Chile, are vaccinated against covid-19. 

Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Islands / Photo EPA / IAN SALAS

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