New Caledonia: confinement is again extended until April 4

Containment measures, in place since March 9 in New Caledonia, have again been extended by a week until April 4, the local government announced on Saturday.

Originally, they had been decided for two weeks and have already been extended for the first time by one week.

"The risk of the virus circulating within the Caledonian population is low and regaining our Covid-free character is possible," said Thierry Santa, president of the collegiate government of the archipelago, responsible for health.

After remaining one year free from Covid-19, New Caledonia recorded on March 7 its first 9 cases of the disease, excluding the mandatory fortnight for all arriving passengers, after an introduction of the virus via the health bubble in place with the neighboring archipelago of Wallis and Futuna.

All schools closed

Since then, 63 cases of coronavirus have been detected, the vast majority in fourteen or in people returning from Wallis and Futuna or having been in contact with them.

But on Thursday, an airport officer tested positive and was considered an indigenous case.

“We cannot ignore this case detected outside the sanitary lock,” insisted Thierry Santa to justify the extension of the confinement.

He also stressed that "the risk of introducing the virus is greater", given the presence of the English variant, which is more contagious.

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If a certificate remains essential for travel, gatherings in prohibited public and private spaces and the wearing of compulsory masks, the measures have been relaxed with the opening of “non-essential” businesses, with the exception of bars and restaurants.

Closed, all schools and universities are now on vacation until April 6.

20,000 first-time injections

At the same time, the government decided on Tuesday to extend the drastic limitation of air traffic until October 31 with a compulsory fortnight in hotels on arrival.

During confinement, flights are suspended, with the exception of medical evacuations and personnel essential to economic activity.

Laurent Prévost, High Commissioner of the Republic, for his part recalled that "the State primarily supports the voluntarist vaccination policy in which the overseas territories, and in particular New Caledonia, are committed".

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From next week, 9,300 doses will be delivered each week and at the end of April, 80,000 doses will have in total benefited the territory, he said while 20,000 people have so far received at least one injection.

Thierry Santa added that a "compulsory vaccination of staff in contact with travelers" could be decided.

Distant 1,800 kilometers from New Caledonia, the archipelago of Wallis and Futuna has for its part identified 352 cases and four deaths due to Covid-19 since March 6.

A vaccination campaign for the entire population is underway there.