The British Antarctic Survey is scaling back its research in the polar south because of coronavirus.
Only essential teams will head back to the continent as it emerges from winter and virtually all science in the deep field has been postponed for a year.
This includes all work on the huge, and rapidly melting, Thwaites Glacier, which has been the focus of a major joint study with the Americans.
BAS says it doesn't have the capacity to treat people if they get sick.
And in consultation with international partners this past week, very strict procedures will now be put in place to keep the virus out of Antarctica.
"No nation has the medical facilities to deal with people who are seriously ill," explained BAS director Prof Dame Jane Francis.
"Everybody is taking very strong precautionary measures to make sure that any activity in Antarctica this year is as safe as possible," she told BBC News.
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