Pacific / New Caledonia

New Caledonia's Covid-19 tally rises to 15

21:28 pm on 27 March 2020

New Caledonia has identified another person with Covid-19, bringing the total to 15.

No details have been given apart from saying it is an imported case.

Restrictions on people's movements have been tightened since Monday night, forcing anyone outside their home to carry a written attestation.

The French High Commission has updated the required document and added another two criteria allowing an individual to be outside their home.

To contain the spread of the disease, the basic rule is still that a person should only have one one-hour outing of less than a kilometre from home a day.

Reports say the procurement of the downloadable form has been impossible for many of those living in the squatter settlements.

However, reports say there has been a high level of compliance with the directive to stay home.

The customary authorities have implored the indigenous Kanaks to protect themselves against the virus and to desist from aspects of communal living.

Although all meetings are banned, a chief in the north of the main island Georges Mandaoue has told the AFP news agency that funerals will still be organised, but instead of having hundreds of people only the immediate family will gather.