Pacific / French Polynesia

Delta behind dramatic spike in French Polynesia's Covid cases

16:36 pm on 20 August 2021

French Polynesia has seen a continued surge of Covid-19 infections today, but vaccinations are increasing too.

Three French Polynesian residents repatriated from Rarotonga Photo: supplied

New cases numbered 1412 in the government daily update to 8am this morning local time, while active cases exceed 7700.

Today's numbers follow yesterday's dramatic increase of 1622 and a massive surge earlier on the previous day of 2164, pushing total numbers to 35,743.

Another 10 deaths follow 24 others this week, taking confirmed fatalities from the virus in the French territory to 245.

There are 324 people in hospital, including 40 in intensive care.

But vaccinations are up too with 11,126 being immunised this week so far including 8180 with their second Pfizer jab.

A new vaccination centre is opening in the coming week at Tahiti's presidential palace, while 16 nurses arrived from France on Sunday to increase vaccination capacity.

Additional health professionals are expected from New Caledonia today.

The delta variant of the virus is behind the latest outbreak, which prompted local authorities to re-introduce public restrictions earlier this month, including a nightly curfew on Tahiti, Mo'orea, Huahine, Ra'iatea, Taha'a and the Tuamotu-Gambier islands of Arutua, Fakarava, Gambier, Makemo, Manihi, Napuka, Rangiroa, Takaroa and Tureia.

Movement is restricted between 9pm to 4am week nights while a total lockdown is in place on weekends from 9pm Friday to 4am Monday.

Since the start of the pandemic 35,743 cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in French Polynesia.

The vast majority occurred after the borders re-opened to tourism in July last year.

Vaccinations have reached 119,413 of the population of 283,000, with 89,973 people having received both Pfizer doses.