The sister island is again under restrictive measures. Prefect Jacques Billant announced the introduction of a curfew for the 1st at midnight from 21 hours to 05 hours until Sunday 23 January 2022 inclusive, that is, for a period of 3 weeks. The incidence rate has reached 740 cases per 100,000 populations.
95% occupancy rate in hospitals
Summing up the actual pandemic situation, the Prefect of Reunion and Martine Ladoucette, Director of the Regional Health Agency, stated that the situation is deteriorating. In the last few days, 1250 new cases have been confirmed and according to the sequencing, omicron is the variant that has already won over a quarter of the positive population. In the hospitals, it is also worrying with an occupancy rate of 95%, that are 84 occupied beds out of 89 available beds in intensive care.
Impositions and restrictions
The curfew will be accompanied by a list of restrictions. The prefect imposes a capacity of 75% of their maximum capacity in restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres, museums, libraries, sports establishments, zoological parks, fairs, covered and open fairs. Besides, standing concerts are prohibited from 3 January for a period of 3 weeks.
The prefect also imposes a ban on private festive gatherings in village halls and multi-purpose halls and in restaurants the limit per table will be 6 people. Fireworks on 31 December and the consumption of alcohol on the public highway will also be prohibited.
Compelling motives and travel certificate
Above all, there is the requirement to present a compelling motive and a travel certificate to move during these hours, which are medical reasons, professional reasons, travel home for work or study with specifications of the location, family and personal reasons, and assistance to vulnerable people, travel for a disabled person and childcare, judicial or administrative summons, food delivery until 11 pm, airport transfer and travel limited to a maximum radius of one kilometre around the home for the needs of pets.
These measures follow the decision of the Prime Minister of France, Jean Castex, on 27 December, to put Reunion Island back under a state of emergency following the increase in cases. In France, the situation is just as chaotic, with an all-time high of 208,000 cases recorded in the last 24 hours, as announced by Minister Olivier Véran before the National Assembly.
