Incidence rates "
never known
" in France since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic, strict confinement in Martinique and probable in Guadeloupe: the health crisis is "
extremely serious
" in the West Indies where the Minister of Overseas Sébastien Lecornu is starting a “
crisis visit
” on Tuesday August 10
.
Read also: Covid-19: should the incidence rate continue to guide health decisions?
"
The situation is extremely serious,
" the minister told AFP before leaving for the West Indies where he is expected Tuesday evening in Guadeloupe. He will travel to Martinique on Thursday where he will be joined by the Minister of Health Olivier Véran. "
These are incidence rates that we have never known in all the territories of the Republic combined,
" he added, considering a probable strengthening of containment in Guadeloupe like the one announced in Martinique on Monday.
"
It makes sense that we are going to have to tighten up the braking measures as there is an emergency,
" he explained.
The decision should be taken on Wednesday, after consulting local elected officials and remotely attending a Health Defense Council chaired by Emmanuel Macron by videoconference.
More than 4000 cases in Martinique
In Martinique, subject to partial containment since July 30, the authorities announced strict measures, and invited tourists to leave the island.
Shops (except food shops and pharmacies), seasonal rentals and hotels (except for the reception of professionals and residents), places of culture and leisure including beaches are closed.
Travel restricted to a maximum of one kilometer around the home, against 10 km until then.
In this poorly vaccinated territory (22% of the population received a first dose), where the Delta variant represents 40% of contaminations, the incidence rate soared to 1,162 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Regional Agency for Health.
For comparison, at the national level, Olivier Véran announced on Twitter that 45 million French people and 80% of adults were "first
vaccinated
".
Martinique went from 410 cases on July 6 to 4,171 in the first week of August, and 35 deaths.
In four weeks, 350 people were hospitalized.
In Guadeloupe, 88% of cases are due to the Delta variant
In neighboring Guadeloupe, already subject to new confinement but for the time being less strict than that of Martinique, the figures also explode: from August 2 to 8, the incidence rate reached 1,769 per 100,000 inhabitants, against 876 the previous week .
During this same period, 14 people died, and the Delta variant represents 88% of the contaminations.
Here too, vaccination coverage is much lower than in mainland France and less than 20% of the population received the two injections there.
In total, 240 caregivers spread over two planes, one for Guadeloupe, one for Martinique, are to fly from Paris on Tuesday for a 15-day support mission.
In addition, 60 firefighters will travel to the West Indies.
Faced with the influx of patients, the two islands carried out the first evacuations of patients to hospitals in France in early August.
Tropical storm, clashes and protest
To make matters worse, a tropical storm threatens Guadeloupe and Martinique which were placed on yellow vigilance Tuesday by Météo France.
Clashes occurred overnight from Sunday to Monday in Guadeloupe, leaving two injured among firefighters.
On Monday, firefighters from the Sainte-Rose barracks, affiliated with the Force Ouvrière union, blocked the national road 2 to protest against the vaccination requirement.
Read also: Covid-19: does the Delta variant develop more serious forms in young people?
Elsewhere in Overseas, the health situation is also critical in Polynesia where the incidence rate now exceeds 1,000 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and where the authorities have announced the reinstatement of a curfew from 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m.
In Reunion, also subject to partial containment since July 31, the incidence rate was more than 350 on August 3.
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