New Caledonia, spared until recently by the Covid-19 epidemic, entered a "
second wave
"
with the Omicron variant
, the health authorities of the French archipelago announced on Thursday January 20, where new measures will come into force as soon as Monday.
The South Pacific archipelago was placed in alert phase 3 (on 4 levels) while the incidence rate more than doubled between Monday and Thursday, going from 212 cases per 100,000 people to 476 cases, according to a bulletin from the health authorities.
Read alsoThe army sends medical reinforcements to New Caledonia to fight against Covid-19
Remained free of Covid-19 for a long time, New Caledonia (270,000 inhabitants) was hit in early September by a violent epidemic, which put pressure on the territorial hospital and required the dispatch of some 300 personnel from the metropolitan health reserve. .
“
The virus is circulating throughout the country and clusters have been identified in companies, but also in holiday centers during this school holiday period
,” said Sylvie Laumond, doctor in the health and social affairs department.
The highly contagious Omicron variant now represents 50% of the cases analyzed in the territory and the authorities expect an explosion of cases in the weeks to come.
Measures similar to those put in place in mainland France to try to curb the epidemic without paralyzing the economy have been announced: as of Monday, isolation for positive vaccinated people will increase from 10 to 7 days with a lifting of isolation possible after 5 days in case of negative tests. Vaccinated workers in priority or asymptomatic sectors will be able to request exemptions in order to be able to continue their professional activity. The isolation of vaccinated contact persons is suspended. Unvaccinated contact persons must continue to observe a 10-day quarantine. Unvaccinated patients have their isolation period maintained at 10 days, without the possibility of requesting an exemption to work.
The Covid-19 appeared in New Caledonia on September 6, killing 282 people.