Covid-19: the incidence rate is increasing in Polynesia, containment introduced over the weekend

In French Polynesia, High Commissioner Dominique Sorain announced on Tuesday August 17 (Wednesday August 18 in Paris) an extension of confinement to the whole weekend, while the incidence rate continues to increase, now reaching 2,614 cases of Covid per 100,000 inhabitants.

Read also: Covid-19: curfew in Polynesia and confinement on Sundays in certain islands

The virus appeared to have almost disappeared from Polynesia between March and July.

But with the Delta variant, he returned with incredible violence, saturating the Tahiti hospital center in one month, with a toll of thirteen deaths in 24 hours and 294 hospitalizations, including 38 in intensive care.

Avoid blocking the territory's economy

Dominique Sorain and the President of French Polynesia, Édouard Fritch, however, refused to re-define Polynesia to avoid paralyzing its economy.

"

We must not rush the country into this economic crash, and that is what hangs in our face,

" said Édouard Fritch.

“

We cannot plunge the Polynesian people into nameless poverty

,” he warned.

Read also: Covid: an exceptional Council of Ministers on Wednesday to restore the state of health emergency in Polynesia

The high commissioner therefore extended to Saturday the confinement, which so far only concerned Sunday, on the five most affected islands: Tahiti, Moorea, Raiatea, Taha'a and Huahine.

The curfew, from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., is maintained throughout the five Polynesian archipelagos.

Proof of vaccination or a negative test will be required for inter-island travel.

Because the islands and atolls far from Tahiti, which often only have a small infirmary, are also concerned.

Every day, planes transport the most seriously ill patients to the hospital center, which has reorganized all its services to reserve half of its beds for the Covid sector.

Reinforcements in the face of a lack of beds and caregivers

Fifteen nurses from the health reserve arrived Monday from mainland France, others are expected, as well as reinforcements from New Caledonia.

But the lack of beds and caregivers is already forcing the hospital to refuse patients.

Read also: Summer 2021, a season under pressure for caregivers

President Édouard Fritch announced that he would submit to the local assembly a law that will impose vaccination on caregivers and people working with fragile audiences.

The start of the school year took place last week in Polynesia and President Fritch wants to keep the students in class.

However, many schools have already chosen to close due to too many cases of Covid-19 among their students or staff.

On the island of Moorea, neighboring Tahiti, the mayor has chosen to close all schools. Several teachers 'unions and the Federation of Parents' Associations are also calling for schools to be closed.