Tahiti's Covid-19 death toll now stands at 133

French Polynesia's Covid-19 death toll has risen to 133 as the border closed again on Thursday and the vaccination programme continued in earnest.

Cases had reached 18,145 on Wednesday with 24 new ones over the previous day. More than 18,000 infections and all deaths have been registered since the territory re-opened to tourism in July.

The border has now closed again in another attempt to contain the virus. During the preceding lockdown, French Polynesia recorded 62 infections and eliminated the virus.

There are now 23 people in hospital including 13 in intensive care.

But vaccination numbers are growing with 34 people having now received their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

Numbers who've received the first jab have reached 2388.

The programme is only available to those on Tahiti and Moorea due to cold storage and transport limitations of the Pfizer vaccine.

Healthcare workers, those 75 and over, and people with health conditions or other vulnerabilities are being prioritised.