The confinement of the population in force since March 9 in Wallis and Futuna, was extended Friday until April 18 to combat the Covid-19 epidemic, the authorities announced.
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"
We are in a fragile health situation, which is stabilized but which needs to be reinforced by an extension of the containment measures
", declared during a press conference, Hervé Jonathan, senior administrator (prefect).
Individual travel is subject to exemptions, establishments open to the public are closed and sporting, cultural or religious activities are prohibited in these Polynesian islands of approximately 11,500 inhabitants.
The measures were however relaxed with the authorization of subsistence fishing and agricultural activities as well as the maintenance of gardens and green spaces.
The crisis unit, which includes the political, religious and customary authorities of Wallis and Futuna alongside the State, decided that “
progressive and prudent deconfinement
” would then be initiated.
Long remained free of Covid-19, the archipelago recorded its first local cases in early March before the rapid spread of the epidemic, especially on the island of Wallis where 418 cases have since been detected and 11 in Futuna.
Five patients aged 35 to 83 died.
Thanks to the dispatch from the Metropolis of some 72 caregivers from the health reserve, currently being replaced, and 18,000 doses of vaccines, a massive campaign for the entire adult population was launched on March 20.
Currently, 47.5% of them have received at least one dose.