Great News for Gibraltar as ‘The Rock’ Is Yet to Register Any Deaths from the Coronavirus

There is some positive news to be reported on amidst the coronavirus crisis, as Gibraltar, also known as ‘The Rock’ is yet to have registered any deaths as a result of the pandemic.

WITH its 30,000 inhabitants practically confined to their homes, Gibraltar has not registered any deaths from Covid-19, while just on the other side of the Gate, in Campo de Gibraltar, at least 33 deaths have been recorded, with approximately 10 active cases.

On the Spanish side of the controversial border crossing, Phase 2 began this Monday, but on the other side, in Gibraltar, movement restrictions had already been lifted, although the meetings are still limited to a maximum of 12 people.

The success of Gibraltar’s management of the coronavirus crisis may be primarily due to its isolation, with land, air and naval border restrictions, which has kept its population in a bubble of some sorts.

The density of its population has also worked in its favour, in a similar way to some of the populations in the province of Cádiz where no deaths have occurred either. However, the secret to their success may also be rooted in the number of tests that have been carried out on the Rock which already consists of 20 per cent of its population.

Since the beginning of the pandemic 6,621 tests have been carried out, of which only 268 are pending results, Gibraltar registered seven active cases on Tuesday. Three residents in Gibraltar and four cross-border workers.

Since the start of the pandemic, 154 cases have been recorded in the Peñón and even now there are 36 people who prefer to remain in a regime of self-isolation, due to having chronic illnesses or being relatives of people with this or living with positive cases.

The chief minister of Gibraltar, on May 21, explained via an institutional statement that, at midnight on that day, that the 10-week social confinement of the Gibraltarians, including for those over 70 years of age, had ended: “This is due to the reduced number of infections currently detected in our community,” said Picardo. “For this reason, the Cabinet of Ministers has agreed that it is no longer proportionate to restrict their civil liberties.”