• Authorities announced stricter containment on Monday in Martinique, as the island is experiencing a significant outbreak of Covid-19.

  • The Minister of Overseas, on the way for "a crisis visit", specified that a tightening of the confinement was also inevitable in Guadeloupe "so much there is urgency".

  • This epidemic explosion is explained in particular by the low vaccination coverage in these territories.

The epidemic situation is worsening in the West Indies.

Authorities on Monday strengthened restrictive measures in Martinique, including the closure of beaches and non-essential businesses.

The island is experiencing, like Guadeloupe, a severe rebound of Covid-19.

The health crisis is "extremely serious" in the West Indies with incidence rates "never known" in France, alarmed Sébastien Lecornu, before a "crisis visit" on Tuesday.

The Minister of Overseas France specified that a tightening of containment was also inevitable in Guadeloupe "so much there is an emergency". 

20 Minutes

takes stock of the situation.

Why such measures?

For several days, the evolution of the virus in the West Indies has been alarming. 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. "You have to understand that we welcome at least 15 patients every day, it is the equivalent of a medical hospitalization unit", reminds AFP Jérôme Viguier, the director general of the ARS. On the island, the Delta variant represents 40% of contaminations and the incidence rate has soared to 1,162 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, according to the Regional Health Agency, well above the national average at 232.53 and very far from the alert threshold set at 50.

In Guadeloupe, the figures also explode: from August 2 to 8, the incidence rate reached 1,769 per 100,000 inhabitants, against 876 the previous week, and 6,669 cases were identified, including around 2,500 during the last weekend alone.

“The situation is catastrophic, because the hospitalizations today are a reflection of the contaminations ten days ago.

With the increase in cases in recent days, they may continue to fly, or even double in Guadeloupe.

The peak of deaths will only be reached 20-30 days after confinement, ”notes Michaël Rochoy, general practitioner, epidemiology researcher and member of the“ On the side of science ”collective.

How to explain this explosion?

In these areas, vaccination is not very successful.

Only 21.47% of Martinicans and 21.13% of Guadeloupe received a first dose (against 66.66% of the total French population).

But this is not the only reason, according to Michaël Rochoy: “There are fewer vaccinated and more people at risk, with a higher obesity rate in particular, it is true.

But the government has fallen behind in restricting measures.

This explosion shows the failure of the curfew strategy announced by the President of the Republic on July 12 for Guadeloupe and Martinique, while the incidence rates were already soaring ”.

What social consequences?

In addition to the health record, this epidemic explosion risks having significant economic repercussions.

The tourism sector, already severely affected by more than a year of pandemic, should be at a standstill with the restriction of traffic, the closure of hotels and restaurants, and the invitation to travelers to "leave the territory" in Martinique.

The visit of Minister Sébastien Lecornu could also be eventful, while tensions have arisen in recent days after demonstrations against the health pass and the new restrictive measures.

Society

Coronavirus in Martinique: Tightening of restrictions, tourists invited to leave the island

Miscellaneous

Coronavirus in Reunion: two tents of a vaccination center set on fire, the preferred criminal track

  • epidemic

  • Anti-covid vaccine

  • Coronavirus

  • Covid 19

  • Society

  • Martinique