Covid-19: a disparate situation in the overseas territories

The only inhabited French territory uncontaminated by Covid-19 is called Wallis-et-Futuna and is located in the Pacific Ocean, more than 16,000 kilometers from the metropolis. A privileged situation which contrasts sharply with that experienced by other hard-hit overseas territories. Overview of these territories in which some 2.6 million inhabitants live.

• Mayotte

Stage 3 of the pandemic was reached on Thursday April 30 in Mayotte. In its daily information bulletin, the Mayotte Regional Health Agency announces the adoption of new protection measures to respond to the "active circulation of the virus" on this archipelago which officially has 256,000 inhabitants.

The balance sheet currently reports 534 people infected and 4 dead, while the epidemic peak should not occur in 15 days. And the situation could take a dramatic turn, as recalled by Cyril Payen, columnist for France 24. "We fear a health tsunami on the spot. Over 80% of the population lives below the poverty line and 30% of homes have no access to running water, "he recalls.

Christelle Dubos, Secretary of State to the Minister of Solidarity and Health, estimated, during a special broadcast proposed Thursday by the Overseas pole of France Televisions, that Mayotte lives a "difficult" health and social situation in which local authorities are trying to cope with. She added that the health fight must be "on two fronts" because of the explosion of the epidemic of dengue, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites.

• The meeting

Since March 11 and the announcement of the first case of contagion, the island has also been actively fighting against the Covid-19 epidemic. As of April 29, 420 people have been identified and no deaths have been reported. The island is now looking at deconfinement measures, a return to primary and secondary schools is expected, on a voluntary basis, from May 18. Reunion also has to face the dengue epidemic which is experiencing a strong acceleration in the Indian Ocean.

• Guyana

The first five cases of Covid-19 detected in early March were residents of the commune of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni after returning from a trip to France where they had participated in a religious gathering in Mulhouse. As of April 29, 125 cases of contamination have been detected; a first death occurred on April 19.

Several NGOs present in this French territory located in South America have alerted of the danger that confinement represents for the most vulnerable inhabitants. "People are hungry, children no longer have to eat" , said Aude Trépont, general coordinator of World Doctors Guyana, daily La Croix. The risk of social crisis is very strong there. And in terms of health, local authorities must also deal with the dengue epidemic.

• West Indies

With nearly 360,000 inhabitants, Martinique has the highest number of deaths (14 for 175 cases) in overseas communities, followed by Guadeloupe - around 400,000 inhabitants, 49 cases and 11 deaths. This rate is explained in particular by the fact that these islands have a large proportion of elderly people. Saint-Barthélémy and Saint-Martin together have 44 cases and 3 deaths.

Click here to follow the evolution of the pandemic in Overseas France

• Saint Pierre and Miquelon

The 6,000 inhabitants of the archipelago will be able to get out of confinement from May 4, but economic activity will only resume gradually depending on the sector. The two islands close to Canada have only recorded one confirmed case of contamination with the new coronavirus at this stage.

• New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Walllis and Futuna

Very well preserved with 18 infected people, New Caledonia relaxed its containment measures as of April 20. A portion of the students in this community thus returned to school a week ago. With only 58 cases, French Polynesia has also started deconfinement and this week continues that of Tahiti and Moorea, the two most populated islands which have concentrated the majority of cases (57). No deaths have been reported in these Pacific Ocean territories.

The only French territory inhabited uncontaminated, Wallis-et-Futuna opted for "external containment" by completely isolating itself from the rest of the world as of March 16 and has not known any case of Covid-19 since that day. This overseas community should soon see the return of several dozen residents. The boat Le Lapérouse, a cruising yacht of the Ponant company, must indeed leave New Caledonia around May 8 with a hundred passengers on board. A handful of days is normally enough to reach the port of Mata Utu from Noumea. But it will slow down, and anchor if necessary off Wallis, to respect a "maritime quarantine" of 14 days. And upon arrival, the passengers on the ship will undergo medical examinations before disembarking.

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