Health and Welfare Minister Dr. Kailesh Jagutpal made the announcement Friday evening at a National Communication Committee press conference on COVID-19 at the Treasury Building in Port Louis. The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Krishna Jhugroo, was also present.
The Minister stressed that this decision was taken following the detection of positive cases of COVID-19 in the region. Forty-eight positive cases are linked to the Terre Rouge cluster, including 17 in Vallée-des-Prêtres, 10 in Cité Martial, 13 in Terre Rouge, one in Coromandel, one in Vallée Pitot, two in Pamplemousses, and four in Port-Louis.
Minister Jagutpal provided details regarding the detection of positive COVID-19 cases in the last few days, as follows:
- On June 29, 2021, an employee of a hotel designated as a quarantine center tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a treatment center, and a Contact Tracing exercise was initiated.
- On June 30, 2021, 11 individuals from one family, who were in contact with the hotel employee, tested positive. As a result, their neighborhood of residence, the Foondun Morcellement, was declared a Red Zone as of yesterday.
- As of June 30, 2021, four positive cases have been detected in Jeetoo Hospital, one in Terre Rouge, two in Port-Louis, and one in Coromandel.
- 31 positive cases have been detected as of July 01, 2021, of which nine were detected in flu clinics and 22 through a Contact Tracing exercise and are all linked to the Terre Rouge cluster.
Regarding the vaccination campaign, the Minister said that to date, more than 574,000 people have received their first dose and 263,000 people their second dose.
He recalled that his ministry offers all the facilities and services necessary for free vaccination in all vaccination centers across the country.
The Minister also urged all citizens to respect all laws, rules, and regulations related to the resumption of activities, while stressing that they must continue to respect the barrier gestures to avoid any spread of the pandemic in the community.
The DCP Krishna Jhugroo, for his part, recalled that a part of Terre Rouge, namely the Foondun Morcellement, has been classified as a Red Zone since yesterday.
As for the newly designated Red Zone area in Priest Valley, he informed that several roadblocks and vehicle checkpoints will be set up at various points to control access and movement in the area.
Regarding the residents of Chitrakoot, the DCP said that the police will investigate and issue them a special permit to move around the area. This permit will have to be presented at each checkpoint, he added.
