The New Caledonian government has extended the current lockdown as well as the curfew, to October as the Covid-19 pandemic worsens there.
On Thursday, seven deaths from Covid-19 were recorded, the heaviest daily toll since the discovery of the first indigenous cases of the disease on September 6.
It brings the death toll to 24 since September 6, announced by President Louis Mapou, during a joint speech with the French High Commissioner, Patrice Faure.
The President of the Government Louis Mapou Photo: AFP or licensors
A total of 211 people are in hospital, including 29 in intensive care.
Authorities are extremely worried by the current situation which is why lockdown has been extented until October 4. The 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew is also extended until the same date.
"We must not relax our efforts, (...) to gradually recover a social life that would allow Caledonia to relaunch itself from October 4. This fight is the fight for life. It requires a lot of sacrifices," Louis Mapou said.
High Commissioner in New Caledonia, Patrice Faure Photo: The Pacific Journal
Due in particular to the "risk of spreading the virus", the representative of France "refuses to take the risk of endangering the population."
Patrice Faure also stressed that "given the violence of comments observed on social networks", this ban also aims to "avoid excesses that could endanger the organizers, participants or passers-by".
The public prosecutor had indicated earlier in the day that prosecution would be initiated, in particular for death threats made online against doctors publicly supporting vaccination.
This picture taken on September 7, 2021, shows a view of the almost deserted city centre of Noumea, in the French Pacific territory of New Caledonia. - New Caledonia imposed a new coronavirus lockdown starting on September 7, 2021, after three new cases were confirmed Photo: AFP or licensors