Polynesia is experiencing new cases of imported coronavirus.

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Suliane FAVENNEC / AFP

There will be no “at this stage” of re-containment in Polynesia, the high commissioner and the president of this overseas collectivity announced together on Friday, despite an incidence rate of 884 in Tahiti. and in Moorea, much higher than that of the metropolis.

"A confinement, as we experienced last April, would be a new blockage of daily life in our country: stopping work, stopping travel, stopping our schools, cults ... it would be an economic and social disaster for all Polynesians ”, declared Edouard Fritch, the Polynesian president.

"Among the countries with the highest infection rate in the world"

The incidence rate, much higher than that of the metropolis, "has multiplied by four to five in four weeks" said the local health ministry, according to which 50% of patients tested are positive.

People who have no symptoms are no longer tested: the number of positive cases is therefore much higher than the official figures. 

On Thursday, the Tahiti hospital had thus declared itself in favor of confinement, while Edouard Fritch admitted, during a press point, that with "more than 400 new positive cases per day in the last month, Polynesia s 'is hoisted, unfortunately for us, among the countries with the highest infection rate in the world ”.

Without a downturn in the epidemic curve, the hospital could reach saturation point as early as November.

He requested the national health reserve, especially since 7 to 8% of caregivers have already been contaminated, according to its director Claude Panero.

The white plan activated by the French Polynesia Hospital Center has already cost more than eight million euros.

Thirty-three patients died from Covid-19 in French Polynesia

French Polynesia does not close its borders either, to allow tourists to continue to come, even if the High Commissioner Dominique Sorain underlined a "collapse of tourist activity", pillar of the local economy, which results in its fall a drop in GDP of 10%.

The high commissioner and the president, however, maintained the curfew and tightened other measures aimed at limiting gatherings: party and meeting rooms are all closed.

Bars and indoor sports facilities also remain closed.

"This is the last step before confinement, we are on a ridge line," however warned the high commissioner, who urged the population to better respect barrier gestures, even with the family, and to postpone the holidays. family and friendly.

Thirty-three patients have died from Covid-19 in French Polynesia.

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