French Polynesia has reported another three Covid-19-related deaths but the health authorities say the latest wave appears to have peaked.
Firemen arrive at a COVID-19 patient's home to carry him to the French Polynesia Hospital Centre, in Pirae. 8 September 2021. Photo: Suliane FAVENNEC / AFP
Almost 400 people have died since the surge of Delta cases in late July, with the daily death toll reaching more than 20 two weeks ago.
However, the number of hospitalisations has remained high, with 303 Covid-19 patients in care, 57 of them in ICUs.
Many more patients are being cared for at home.
Two weeks ago, daily case numbers stopped being reported after passing the 40,000-mark as unofficial reports say they had reached 3,000 a day.
A lockdown is in its third week, and the vaccination drive has reached 52 percent of the population with at least one jab.
Health ministry figures show, however, that 95 percent of patients in intensive care haven't been vaccinated.
Most of the territory is in a four-week lockdown and curfews are in place to slow the spread of the virus.
In July last year, the borders were reopened for quarantine-free travel and within weeks, Covid-19 was in the community.
Officially, 538 people have died as a result of the pandemic, but many say the toll has been higher because some of those who died at home were not included in the count.
Police in French Polynesia control movements during Covid-19 lockdown Photo: supplied FB French High Commission in French Polynesia