But because Chinese air travelers haven’t gone through multiple variant waves, they could be more vulnerable to infection. It’s much too early to tell exactly what effect the policy shift will have though China appears to be experiencing a major wave of infections presently, that hasn’t translated into major infections outside the country. But policies surrounding infectious diseases are hard to make without accurate data about caseloads, hospitalizations, and deaths, which China has failed to collect and disseminate since rolling back zero-Covid in late December. The US, the UK, Italy, India, Israel, Spain, Canada, South Korea, and France are all implementing some form of restrictions on air travel from China that typically means a passenger embarking in China and heading to one of these countries can’t board without a negative test, or, in Spain’s case, without being vaccinated. But the major policy shift could pose further complications in China as people resume international travel, and geopolitically as a patchwork of countries impose restrictions on Chinese air travelers. People can go out only for work or for essential activities such as medical visits, or for a maximum one hour of sport within one kilometre of their homes.įlights to and from the territory, as well as intra-island flights, are suspended indefinitely except for medical personnel.Īlready anyone arriving to New Caledonia has to quarantine for 15 days at government-requisitioned lodgings - a rule that prevented President Emmanuel Macron from visiting when he travelled to nearby French Polynesia in July.China is rapidly opening up after years of its “zero-Covid” policy, with strict lockdowns, mandatory testing, and major travel restrictions.

Schools and universities will be shut for the next 15 days, and face masks will be required outside. 'The virus is spreading and it's likely that several dozens of Caledonians are now infected,' said the territory's president, Louis Mapou. The government announced last week that vaccination would now be mandatory for all adults.

Just 30 percent of residents are currently vaccinated, compared with 73 percent having at least one dose for France overall. Many are concerned the situation will get worse, as it has done in French Polynesia, an archipelago with a similar number of inhabitants.īut vaccine hesitancy among the indigenous Kanak population means many people remain vulnerable. The latest local government figures show that 66 cases have been reported since the 6 September 2021 and 7 patients admitted to intensive care.

Previously just 202 positive Covid-19 cases had been recorded among the population of around 290,000, and no deaths. Local authorities ordered strict travel restrictions at the start of the pandemic in 2020 to avoid an outbreak that would overwhelm hospitals on the islands. 'Several cases of Covid-19 have been detected among people who have not travelled outside the territory in the last few weeks, and have no link between them,' cabinet ministers wrote in their summary concerning New Caledonia. This is in line with measures put in place for all overseas territories dealing with an increase in Covid-19 cases putting local hospitals under strain. The health state of emergency is valid until the 15 November, following a decision made by the parliament on Tuesday evening, and will be validated by the Senate on Thursday, authorities said.

France new lockdown today