For three months, Martinique had been spared the Covid-19 epidemic.
To counter a recovery, a curfew will be introduced from Friday for a period of three weeks, announced the prefect on Tuesday, Stanislas Cazelles.
From 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., Martinicans will no longer be able to go out without a derogatory certificate and only for specific reasons: professional activities, urgent consultations and care and pressing family reasons.
"Contamination often takes place in the evening in a friendly, family and festive setting," said the prefect during a press briefing.
Establishments open to the public and having a catering activity in shopping centers will be closed and the consumption of drinks or food prohibited in shopping malls.
New restrictions have also been taken for sports activities.
"The epidemic is on the rise"
“We have observed a large increase in unauthorized gatherings on beaches and on public roads, an increase in infractions in establishments open to the public in the evening, difficulty in distancing and wearing masks and non-compliance with closure which were sanctioned by 30 formal notices and 5 closures, ”said the prefect.
Spared for three months, Martinique wants to avoid an outbreak.
“But since the end of February, the epidemic has started to rise again under the combined effect of the relaxation of behavior and the circulation of the English variant,” explained Stanislas Cazelles.
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Martinique has counted over the last week "more than 400 cases including 50 to 60% of English variant", according to Jacques Rosine, the head of Public Health France in Martinique.
50 deaths since the start of the epidemic
This figure, presented every Tuesday was 252 the previous week.
The incidence rate thus exceeded the 100 per 100,000 inhabitants mark this week.
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We deplore 50 deaths since the start of the epidemic, 37 patients hospitalized at the CHU of the island including 10 in intensive care.
80% of COVID beds are already occupied.
In this context, the Prefect also announced the strengthening of the “test, alert, protect” system.
Finally, the vaccination campaign should also be stepped up.
So far 13,000 injections, including 10,000 first doses, have been administered in Martinique.
The prefect plans to increase the number of vaccination centers in order to vaccinate 3,000 people per day.