22 Mar 2020

Coronavirus: Number of cases in French Polynesia rises to 17

6:17 pm on 22 March 2020

Two more people in French Polynesia have been diagnosed with Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 17.

In a statement, the government says nine cases are related to international travel.

It says one of those infected is in hospital, down from two reported two days ago.

The first case was diagnosed ten days ago when a local politician returning from Paris tested positive.

Restrictions have been gradually tightened, and yesterday no-essential businesses were ordered to close, which triggered a run on some supermarkets in Tahiti.

The main public hospital has decided to limit access and to focus on emergencies.

The public broadcaster says a group of Indonesian and Filipino sailors tried to leave the post to go to the airport for a flight to their home countries.

The report says security forces stopped them and made them go back to their vessels.