overtaken by the virus, French Polynesia closes its schools and tightens containment

Overseas territory experiences virus outbreak, forcing government to take drastic action

French Polynesia is facing a worrying situation. After a first series of measures taken this week, the authorities of the archipelago have announced that they want to close schools, colleges and high schools “from Monday”, announced the president of the archipelago Edouard Fritch, as part of a hardening of the confinement planned for two weeks

“We have decided to limit as much as possible […] the displacement of the population in the most affected areas ”and this for“ two weeks from Monday ”, for his part affirmed Friday (Saturday in Paris) the High Commissioner Dominique Sorain, while the incidence rate reached 2,800 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Polynesia, the highest rate in France.

Return of certificates

Concretely “the prohibition of movement becomes, temporarily, the rule”, with an obligation of attestation to justify a series of exemptions: going to work and being trained, being treated or vaccinated, assisting a vulnerable person, essential purchases … Shops of non-essential goods, leisure activities, restaurants and bars “will have to temporarily cease their activity” and “leisure travel will be suspended temporarily”, he added.

In addition, the curfew, which ran from 9 pm to 4 am, “will be brought forward to start at 8 pm throughout the territory of French Polynesia”, added the High Commissioner.

30 to 40% absenteeism

Regarding schools “we will close our primary and secondary schools, while ensuring the educational continuity of our children in primary and secondary, from Monday,” said President Edouard Fritch.

Indeed “the spread of the Delta variant within our schools over the last two days requires a strong reaction from us,” he added, noting nearly 40% of student absenteeism in the region. primary and nearly 30% in secondary.

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