The prefect of Saint-Martin, faced with the resurgence of covid cases in the territory, the growing number of hospitalizations and after three deaths in recent days, announced Thursday the establishment of a curfew from Sunday until to June 9.
“
From Sunday, I decided to put in place a curfew from 8 pm
” until 6 am, declared the prefect Serge Gouteyron.
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The health situation in Saint-Martin, a small Caribbean island with less than 40,000 inhabitants, has deteriorated over the past three weeks.
More than 120 new cases were recorded last week and seven people hospitalized, including one on respiratory assistance.
Three people also died this week.
With these new restrictions, the authorities hope to save the lifting of the compelling reasons for travel from France to the Antilles and Saint-Martin, announced by the government and the French Overseas Ministry.
But, warned the prefect, "
if the situation does not improve, I will extend the restrictions
."
The prefecture also intends to further encourage the population to be vaccinated, the vaccination rate being much lower, for example, than that of Saint-Barthélemy. Saint-Martin now has 16 deaths since the start of the crisis, including four since April and three this week. Saint-Martin, spared in recent months, has seen its health situation worsen while restrictions are lifted in Guadeloupe, Martinique, and France.