Covid 19: All restrictions lifted in New Caledonia except for borders

All restrictions to combat the spread of the coronavirus are lifted in New Caledonia, except for border protection framed by a strict health protocol, the government announced on Thursday.

Since May 4th, the archipelago, with only 21 cases recorded, has been almost unconfined following a framework set for 6 weeks and expiring on June 15th. 

"All the measures that persisted will be lifted," government president Thierry Santa said to the press, citing in particular the end of compulsory masks in public transport, the authorization of gatherings of more than 500 people or even the resumption of sports competitions.

Bars, restaurants and nightclubs will no longer have the obligation to record the contact details of their customers. Thierry Santa also mentioned that "We can say without ambiguity that there is no circulation of the virus within the Caledonian population," none of the 21 cases of Covid-19 recorded have been endogenous. There have been no deaths and only one patient is still in hospital.

If normal life resumes in New Caledonia, the borders remain tightly controlled. Air traffic is limited to resident repatriation flights and all arrivals are confined to hotels for 14 days and to a week at home, under the supervision of health authorities. Only the inhabitants of Wallis and Futuna, free from the disease, are no longer subject to this protocol.

The third week of home confinement is under discussion and might be lifted soon.

www.lefigaro.fr/virus-toutes-les-restrictions-levees-en-nouvelle-caledonie-sauf-pour-les-frontieres

www.huffingtonpost.fr/nouvelle-caledonie-coronavirus-restrictions