COVID-19 pandemic in the British Indian Ocean Territory

The COVID-19 pandemic in the British Indian Ocean Territory is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Diego Garcia of the British Indian Ocean Territory in November 2020.

Background
On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll. From 19 March 2020, Public Health England no longer classified COVID-19 as a "High consequence infectious disease".

November 2020
In November 2020, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed at Diego Garcia.

December 2020
In December 2020, the second case, a close contact of the first case, was confirmed.

May 2021
In May 2021, three more cases were confirmed from a flight. The personnel arrived at the island in April.