Covid-19: Guadeloupe returns to a state of health emergency against a backdrop of violence – archyde

In Guadeloupe, the respite will have been short-lived. Less than two months after the lifting, on November 14, of the state of health emergency in this West Indian department which had been submerged by a fourth wave of the Covid-19 epidemic, the archipelago returns to this regime of exception. The government declared, Wednesday, January 5, a state of health emergency in Guadeloupe, as well as in Guyana, Mayotte, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy. “Under the effect of the Omicron variant, the circulation of Covid-19 is experiencing a considerable increase in several overseas territories”, indicates the decree presented to the Council of Ministers.

Last week, after the speech of December 27 by the Prime Minister, Jean Castex, the state of health emergency had already been triggered in Reunion Island and extended in Martinique, a department subject to this regime since mid-July. The text adopted on Wednesday also specifies that the government will present before the Senate an amendment to the bill strengthening the tools for managing the health crisis for “Provide for the extension of the state of health emergency to March 31, 2022”.

The prefect of Guadeloupe, Alexandre Rochatte, wasted no time. Anticipating the publication of the decree in Official newspaper, the representative of the State announced the color, Wednesday afternoon, during a press conference given in tandem with Valérie Denux, the director general of the regional health agency (ARS) of Guadeloupe, Saint-Martin and Saint -Barthélemy. Since the start of the pandemic, these appearances in duo of the prefect and the head of the ARS have become a ritual to which Guadeloupeans have become accustomed and which shows the gravity of the situation.

1% of the population infected in one day

“This state of health emergency allows me to take a number of measures that, unfortunately, we know well”, observed Alexandre Rochatte, before announcing the details of the restrictions that will come into force on Friday, January 7. Among other things, the end of “Some exceptions” from which Guadeloupe benefited in terms of the application of the health pass, dance evenings or teleworking. The beaches will be closed to access every evening from 6 p.m., while the carnival parades will likely be canceled. “We are going to put in place a curfew”, added the prefect. From Friday evening, Guadeloupeans will have to stay at home at night, between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. The start of the curfew could be brought forward to 8 p.m. on Sunday depending on the evolution of the health situation.

You have 56.14% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.