Pacific

Wallis and Futuna lockdown extended to Sunday

05:58 am on 12 April 2021

The lockdown in Wallis and Futuna has been extended until Sunday to contain the Covid-19 community outbreak.

The territory went into a lockdown more than a month ago when the first case was detected.

Covid-19 vaccination in Wallis and Futuna Photo: supplied FB Préfet de Wallis-et-Futuna

More than 420 people, mainly on Wallis, have tested positive for the virus - five of whom have died.

The lockdown was first imposed for two weeks but has been extended to slow the propagation of the virus.

A vaccination drive was launched in late March with the help of a visiting French medical team, allowing to date to give almost half the population at least one dose.

While more French medical staff arrived in Wallis and Futuna at the weekend, the bubble with New Caledonia remains suspended.

The outbreak in Wallis and Futuna, whose origin is yet to be determined, spread to nearby New Caledonia last month, prompting also a lockdown.