Each at its own pace, the ultra-marine territories have gradually started during this last month their return to normal life. The government and the local authorities must succeed in a balancing act : "Reconciling protection of populations and need for openness" , in the words of the Minister of Overseas Annick Girardin during an interview with Radio Caribbean International, Monday June 8.
Read also: Coronavirus: personalities from overseas call Macron on the consequences of the health crisis
An experiment was set up as of this Tuesday, June 9. People wishing to travel to Guadeloupe, Reunion, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy or Saint-Martin from the mainland will be able to benefit from a reduced quarantine. Goodbye the "fortnight", hello the "septaine": if it is tested negative before departure, the traveler will be able to take his flight, will benefit from an accelerated procedure at the airport, then will have to stay in quarantine for seven days.
The traveler will then be tested again. In the event of a negative result, he may leave his home. For a week, he will have to force himself to wear a mask systematically outside, to avoid participating in rallies and not to frequent people at risk, the government statement said. A review of this "adapted health protocol" will be carried out by June 22.
No more "compelling reason" necessary from June 22
Another highly anticipated measure: the minister declared on Twitter that from June 22, "there will be no more compelling reasons to go to an overseas territory" . Currently, people wishing to go to an ultra-marine territory from the metropolis must justify their displacement by an imperative reason of a personal or family order, a health reason relating to emergency or a professional reason which cannot be deferred.
Annick Girardin added that the number of passengers per flight would no longer be capped as of June 22. She said on Radio Caribbean International that the number of weekly flights would be "gradually increased" , after discussion "territory by territory" with local elected officials, prefects and professionals. "The frequencies will therefore be different according to the territories," warned the minister.
In Mayotte, a still "delicate" situation
The economic issue is important. The ultra-marine territories, hard hit by the coronavirus crisis and very dependent on tourism in general, cannot afford to miss the approaching long holidays. "Yes, the French will be able to go to the overseas territories this summer," hammered on Twitter Annick Girardin, who wishes that "the French can make their reservations" .
Read also: Summer holidays in the French overseas territories: fortnight, resumption of flights ... what we know
Among the overseas territories, only Guyana and Mayotte remain orange today. In Mayotte, where 2,151 cases and 26 deaths have been reported, the virus is still circulating. Last week, 183 detainees out of the 323 in the only prison in this Indian Ocean archipelago were tested positive. A health situation described as "delicate" by the prefecture, to which is added a tense social situation, in a context of increased insecurity.
