COVID-19 pandemic in New Caledonia

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COVID-19 pandemic in New Caledonia
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationNew Caledonia
Index caseNouméa
Arrival date18 March 2020
(1 year, 5 months, 4 weeks and 2 days ago)
Confirmed cases1,286[1]
Recovered58[2]
Deaths
4[1][2]
Government website
https://gouv.nc/coronavirus

The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the French overseas collectivity of New Caledonia on 18 March 2020.[3] All cases are on the main island of Grand Terre and are related to travel abroad.[4] On 7 May, all cases had recovered.[5]

On 7 September 2021, New Caledonia reported three new community cases, triggering a two-week lockdown and travel restrictions across the territory.[6] By 14 September, the territory had reported two deaths while the number of active cases had risen to 821. In response, New Caledonian authorities imposed a night–to–dawn curfew over the territory.[7]

Background[]

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[8][9]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[10][11] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[12][10]

Timeline[]

COVID-19 cases in New Caledonia  (
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)
     Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases
20202021
JanFebMarApr
Last 15 days
Date
# of cases
⋮
​
​
 116(=)
2021-04-16
​
​
 123(+6%)
Sources:

March 2020[]

On 17 March, President Thierry Santa announced plans to suspend all flights into the territory as a precautionary measure, with all visitors to self-quarantine, with non-compliance to be punished with a fine.[13]

On 18 March, the first two cases in New Caledonia were confirmed.[3]

Out of forty tests carried out on 21 March, two cases were confirmed, bringing the total number to 4.[14]

On 25 March, four new cases were reported, bringing the total to fourteen.[15]

On 27 March, one new case was reported. The case was imported and brought the collectivity's total to fifteen.[16]

May 2020[]

On 7 May, all 18 patients had recovered. At the time there were no active cases.[5]

July 2020[]

On 15 July, one new COVID-19 case was reported bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 22.[17]

December 2020[]

As of December, there was no community transmission. However, security forces from France responding to the 2020 protests in New Caledonia had tested positive. Leaders in the Loyalty Islands Province of New Caledonia banned these security forces from visiting their islands because they were allowed to leave mandatory quarantine early.[18]

March 2021[]

On 7 March, the first locally-transmitted cases were reported in the collectivity, with 9 positive cases detected outside quarantine on travellers from the collectivity of Wallis & Futuna, where a community outbreak was also reported. A 14-day lockdown was implemented on 9 March.[19]

August 2021[]

As of 30 August, New Caledonia was COVID-19 free; with the territory having recorded 135 cases but no fatalities.[20]

September 2021[]

On 6 September 2021, New Caledonia reported three Delta variant cases in the community. These three cases were not connected and involve people who haven't traveled, suggesting the virus is circulating in the community.[6][21] In response, health authorities launched an investigation to identify contacts and the chain of transmission.[6]

In response to the September 2021 community outbreak, the New Caledonian Government imposed a two week lockdown on the territory.[6] Under lockdown rules, anyone in public must carry a written document justifying their movement. In addition, flights and ferries have ceased operation, except for flights carrying medical personnel.[22] In addition, all schools in the South Province were closed for two weeks and all flights to the Loyalty Islands were cancelled.[21]

On 8 September, the Loyalty Islands provincial administration confirmed that four people Lifou Island had tested positive for Covid-19. That same day, the New Caledonian government confirmed that seven COVID-19 patients were in hospital in Noumea, including a patient transferred from Lifou.[22] By 8 September, the New Caledonian Government had confirmed a total of 16 active cases with six of them in intensive care in Noumea. None of these individuals had been vaccinated.[23]

By 9 September, 66 community cases linked to the September 2021 outbreak had been reported. Health authorities have identified 12 clusters, with contacts being asked to isolate and get tested. In response, the New Caledonian government appealed for all medical and paramedical personnel including veterinarians to assist in efforts to combat COVID-19.[24]

On 10 September, New Caledonia reported its first COVID-19-related death, a 75 year old man who died in hospital. 51 new cases were reported, bringing the total number of active cases to 117. In response, New Caledonian members of the French Parliament appealed for France to send more medical personnel due to a shortage of specialists needed to staff the intensive care units at hospitals.[7][25]

On 14 September, New Caledonia reported 256 new Delta variant cases, bringing the total number of cases connected to the September 2021 outbreak to 821. Seven patients are in intensive care and two have died. the French High Commissioner imposed a curfew between 9pm and 5am. Local tabac presse (newsagency shops) were required to close but supermarkets were allowed to remain open.[26]

Vaccination efforts[]

By 30 August 2021, 32% of New Caledonia's population had been vaccinated. A leading physician Dr Thierry De Greslan urged authorities to double the vaccination rate, warning that at least 60% of the population needed to be vaccinated to avert the collapse of the territory's healthcare system. President of the Government of New Caledonia has stated that compulsory vaccinations were no longer taboo.[20]

On 4 September 2021, the Congress of New Caledonia unanimously voted to make vaccinations against COVID-19 compulsory. The new law, which will come into effect when it is gazetted, allows France to order anyone entering New Caledonia to be fully vaccinated. While New Caledonia's autonomous status gives it control over its healthcare, France is responsible for the territory's border control.[27]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Info coronavirus Covid-19". Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (in French). 13 September 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "COVID-19 Coronavirus - Update". virusncov.com. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b "Coronavirus Update (Live) – Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Archived from the original on 18 March 2021.
  4. ^ "President of New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands wants bans lifted". Radio New Zealand. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b "POINT DE SITUATION SANITAIRE INTERMÉDIAIRE" (PDF) (in French). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "New Caledonia goes into lockdown after Covid-19 community outbreak". Radio New Zealand. 7 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "First Covid-19 death in New Caledonia". Radio New Zealand. 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  8. ^ Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  9. ^ Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  11. ^ "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  12. ^ "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Coronavirus: Sweeping restrictions introduced across the Pacific". Radio New Zealand. 17 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Deux nouveaux cas de coronavirus en Nouvelle-Calédonie". Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  15. ^ "COVID-19: Ninth case in New Caledonia confirmed". Radio New Zealand. 24 March 2020. Archived from the original on 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  16. ^ "New Caledonia's Covid-19 tally rises to 15". Radio New Zealand. 27 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 August 2021. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  17. ^ "French soldier tests positive for Covid-19 in New Caledonia". Radio New Zealand. 15 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  18. ^ "Road blocks removed after New Caledonia riots". Radio New Zealand. 14 December 2020. Archived from the original on 22 December 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Covid-19 : la Calédonie en confinement à compter de lundi soir minuit". Nouvelle-Calédonie la 1ère (in French). Archived from the original on 8 July 2021. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  20. ^ Jump up to: a b "News Programmes Schedules How to Listen About RNZ Pacific PACIFIC NEW CALEDONIA30 Aug 2021 New Caledonia ponders compulsory Covid-19 vaccination". Radio New Zealand. 30 August 2021. Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b "Three delta cases of covid detected in New Caledonia – schools closed". . Auckland University of Technology's Media Centre. 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b "New Caledonia Covid-19 outbreak confirmed in Lifou". Radio New Zealand. 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  23. ^ "Fears Covid-19 spread in New Caledonia out of control". Radio New Zealand. 8 September 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  24. ^ "All medical personnel in New Caledonia urged to help with Covid-19 outbreak". Radio New Zealand. 9 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  25. ^ "New Caledonia reports first covid death – 117 cases in four days". . 10 September 2021. Archived from the original on 10 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  26. ^ "New Caledonia imposes curfew as delta outbreak new cases hit 256". . Auckland University of Technology's Media Centre. 14 September 2021. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  27. ^ "New Caledonia imposes Covid-19 vaccination regime". Radio New Zealand. 4 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.


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