The highlights of this weekly pandemic review will remain the maintenance of restrictions without concessions until the end of March as announced by the Prime Minister on 12 November 2021 and the mandatory Booster Dose for employees as well as students in the tertiary sector in the absence of a commitment to present a PCR test imperatively every 7 days. The Minister of Health, solely facing the press for this meeting, insisted that the protection of the population will be through the Booster dose.
15 January in re-evaluation
Speaking about the January deadline for the implementation of the new ‘Fully Vaccinated’ status, he let it be understood that his ministry is collecting the necessary information from public health institutions, police and fire stations, educational institutions, reform institutions, probation centres, the port and airport, dormitories, restaurants, hotels and sports complexes. The review is mainly for employees, both private and civil servants. “If the number of people vaccinated with the Booster Dose is low, this will certainly have an impact on the operation. We will make a final decision within 24 hours,” he said.
“It is at the end of March that a decision will be taken on the measures in place,” said Dr Jagutpal. If the situation improves at the end, the restrictions will be relaxed and vice versa, depending on the local situation of the pandemic. He emphasised on the protection of the individual through the third dose, despite the WHO’s warning that the booster dose is not a guarantee of immunity. “We have to anticipate the developments of the pandemic situation, the current variants and the new ones that may reach us until then! We have to think about the economic situation, the resumption of schools, the arrival of the next winter season, so we have to protect the population against any danger. Instead of standing idle, it is better to boost the immune system of the population. Face to Covid-19 and its mutations, if necessary, people should be vaccinated again in six months’ time,” he said, taking a cue from other seasonal vaccines such as the flu vaccine. He also mentioned the benefits of the Booster dose, referring to cases of recontamination after the second dose where patients remained “asymptomatic, required less hospitalisation and were less likely to transmit the virus“.
Declining trend since 10 December 2021
The current situation in the country has been less severe since the beginning of December with far fewer deaths and the rate of positive cases on a daily basis. “12 patients are currently in hospital ENT including 1 patient over 70 years old on ventilation and with several comorbidities. 11 are on oxygen, 6 of whom are unvaccinated, 9 are over 60 years old and 9 have multiple comorbidities. 78 positive patients are admitted to our 5 other regional hospitals. The death rate is not yet compiled for the week but we are recording an average of 1 to 2 deaths per day” he said. In terms of positive cases, as of Thursday 13 January, we have recorded 78 positive cases, including 4 admissions to the New ENT Hospital and 14 in other hospitals.
The vaccination campaign is on the rise. To date, 955,181 people in Mauritius have been primo vaccinated, 915,740 have received two doses and 238,122 the third. In Rodrigues the rate is 67.9% for the first dose, 65.5% for the second dose and 4,303 people for the third.
There is a rush for the third dose, as is demonstrated daily in the crowded vaccination centres, but also by dissatisfied people who could not be vaccinated. The exercise is done in alphabetical order. The Johnson & Johnson vaccine is offered to 18–39-year-olds in six centres and the Pfizer vaccine for 12-17 and 40+ year olds in eight centres. “These 8 vaccination centres can administer at least 800 people per day. But not more than that because there is a problem of transport and storage at a certain temperature. We cannot take the risk of sending more doses to the vaccination centres and end up wasting and throwing them away”. The Minister took the opportunity to remind that people are rushing for the third dose while the call was launched last October and that according to the ministry’s estimates, “we should have had more than 500,000 people vaccinated with the third dose. So far, only 238,122 have done so and that is less than 50%“. He also criticised that the tendency “to wait until the last moment has created crowds and discontent. We must not let the population make the same mistake for the vaccination of adolescents.” He also mentioned the new target of the vaccination campaign, the 5- to 11-year-olds. But the start of this campaign is pending and will depend on Pfizer’s parent company “we hope to receive the doses as soon as possible. Otherwise, we will have to wait until April to start this campaign,” he said. Minister Jagutpal also drew attention to the 3 shipments from Pfizer in September, November and mid-December handed over to the concerned ministry yesterday amounting to 203,580 doses from the US Embassy in Mauritius totalling 387,270 doses, which are meant only for adults. “It is the same brand but not for the same age groups. The components are different. The vaccines for the younger children will be of other different components,” he said.
Restrictions and prohibitions
The third dose is also of unprecedented importance for tertiary students. Only those, who have a third dose, will be allowed to sit for the next exams… or else submit a PCR test that is less than 7 days old.
As for the restrictions and prohibitions, these are the same ones maintained with the ultimate goal of mitigating the spread. Le Matinal gives you a reminder
Firstly, barrier measures must be strictly observed, including the wearing of masks that properly cover the nose and mouth, social distancing of at least one metre, the use of hand sanitizers and monitoring body temperature.
The number of people allowed is reduced to 50 at public and private gatherings, funerals and weddings. This time, each gathering must inform the police to monitor the proceedings and especially the number of people present. For places of worship, however, only 10 people will be allowed at a time.
Sports complexes and gymnasiums should only be open to ‘fully vaccinated’ people and the distance to the square dedicated to a member should be 4 meters. The area should be well ventilated. The beaches will remain open but picnics will be strictly forbidden. Other activities will not be restricted except for the respect of barrier gestures. The same applies to public gardens and fitness trails, which will remain open. But for access to the kindergartens, accompanying persons must be vaccinated.
To help working parents, crèches and nurseries will remain open. But schools will be closed and lessons will be online only
For the catering sector, staff will have to be vaccinated and access will only be given to those who are vaccinated and whose proof will appear on their vaccination pass, digital or physical. The distance of 2 meters between tables must be respected.
Horse racing will be allowed to continue at the Champ de Mars but on an ‘in camera’ basis with a maximum of 150 employees.
Bars and nightclubs are called to remain closed. The ban also covers beach picnics, socio-cultural activities, sports competitions, concerts, reception halls, festival halls, community centres and CAB offices.
Discrimination or normality?
Will the new vaccination status in force on 15 January also apply to incoming tourists? Well, no! According to Dr Jagutpal, “the Booster dose will only apply to Mauritians. The tourist arrives in Mauritius with his vaccinations already done, recent PCR tests and insurance. He will only reside on the island for a short time. And as far as a tourist is concerned, we have provisions that allow us to easily monitor them,” he said. Namely, we are entering the Off Season for holiday tourism but in the middle of the Business Tourism season.
