The end of confinement is near.

The restriction measure in force in Reunion for more than a month to curb a new wave of Covid-19 will be completely lifted from Saturday and the curfew pushed back to 11 p.m., announced the prefect, Wednesday, September 15, in a press release. 

"For the fifth consecutive week, the epidemic situation is improving in Reunion Island", explained the prefect Jacques Billant, quoted in the press release, stressing that "the latest data from Public Health France dated September 11 show (... ) state an incidence rate of 99 and a positivity rate of 2.1% ".  

Provisions "perfectly followed" by the Reunionese 

At the end of July, when the epidemic was in full resurgence, the incidence rate had exceeded 400 per 100,000 inhabitants and the positivity rate had reached 10%. 

The prefecture then imposed a ban on movement outside a radius of 10 km around his home (5 km on weekends) and to go out between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. 

These provisions "perfectly followed by the Réunionese and the Réunionese have made it possible to considerably slow down the epidemic circulation on the territory", commented Jacques Billant. 

The prefect warned, however, that it was not possible at this stage to "rule out any risk of an epidemic resumption which (...) would lead to the reinstatement of new restrictions".

"This is why the increase in vaccination coverage" remains "more relevant than ever" he added. 

Relaxation of restrictions 

The improvement in the health situation had made it possible for the restrictive measures to be eased for the first time on Monday, September 6.

Containment was only maintained on weekends and the curfew pushed back to 9 p.m. 

The provisions which come into force on Saturday will be in effect at least until October 3 inclusive. 

As of Tuesday, September 7, 423,442 people - or 60.3% of the population - had a complete vaccination schedule 

Since the start of the epidemic on March 11, 2020, 358 patients have died from the disease.

Some 264 of these people have died in the past six months. 

With AFP

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