Strict containment of the population has just been re-established for this weekend in New Caledonia, where the decline of the Covid-19 epidemic is considered insufficient to hope to avoid a rebound, the local government announced on Friday.
The archipelago has been facing for six weeks a violent first wave of coronavirus, which killed 231 people in six weeks, including 5 in the past 24 hours, and infected nearly 10,000 people.
Read also Covid-19: the epidemic continues to grow in New Caledonia, 85% of hospital beds saturated
After five weeks of strict confinement, adaptation measures have been in place since Monday: openings of non-essential shops, restaurants with health passes, colleges and high schools.
But they have engendered "
too much relaxation
", according to the president of the local government.
"
We have been able to observe some improvements (...), but this is not enough,
" said Louis Mapou, citing a slowly declining incidence rate, currently at 300 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Also, from Saturday 2 p.m. and until Monday 5 a.m., travel will again be subject to certification, only food shops and pharmacies will be open while the sale of alcohol was banned from Friday.
The appropriate containment will remain in place until October 31 and the application of barrier gestures until the end of the year, also indicated Louis Mapou.
Evacuations to the Metropolis are planned
While 45 of the 61 Covid intensive care beds in the hospital are occupied, "
putting a lot of pressure on the medical teams
", the government has also asked the army to create 10 additional beds and is considering medical evacuation to the metropolis of some patients.
Read also Covid-19: vaccination will become compulsory for all adults in New Caledonia
In New Caledonia, an autonomous territory with jurisdiction over health, vaccination has been made compulsory, in particular for transport, education, health sector and media personnel, as well as law enforcement and military personnel. .
This list will apply from October 31.
To date, 50% of the total population (280,000 inhabitants) has a complete vaccination schedule.