Pacific / French Polynesia

Tahiti Covid-19 case number jumps

11:51 am on 11 October 2020

French Polynesia's Covid-19 pandemic is accelerating, with 344 new cases recorded in the past two days.

633 cases are considered active of the 2754 recorded so far.

All but 62 cases were detected after the borders were reopened and mandatory quarantine requirements were abolished in July in order to boost tourism and revive the economy.

The virus has now also spread to the Marquesas after being detected in the Tuamotus and the Austral islands, but most cases are in Tahiti and Moorea.

40 people are in hospital, including 4 in intensive care.

The pandemic has claimed 10 lives in French Polynesia.