31 Mar 2020

Another covid case in Noumea as repatriation flights set to go

9:03 pm on 31 March 2020

Another person in New Caledonia has tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 16.

Air Calin planes at Tontouta Airport in New Caledonia

As covid cases surge in New Caledonia, flights to repatriate stranded citizens to the territory are set to go ahead Photo: AFP

The latest case was detected among those held in quarantine in the Noumea area and is the first positive test result in three days.

The government says one person with Covid-19 has been in intensive care since Sunday.

The French High Commission said that in the week since movements were restricted a total of 766 people had been found in breach and fined.

Police have carried more than 50,000 checks.

Anyone in public has to carry a written attestation justifying their movement.

Repatriation flights for stranded New Caledonians

New Caledonia plans to begin with evacuation flights for residents stranded abroad amid the Covid-19 crisis by sending planes to Australia and Japan.

On Friday, about 130 people are due to be flown by Aircalin to Noumea from Sydney and another 60 from Tokyo.

A total of 1700 people hope to be able to return, with those seeking a flight from France expected to have to wait another two weeks.

Anyone arriving will be isolated.

The president Thierry Santa said some Covid-19 patients are being given the malaria drug chloroquine after its administration was approved in France.

There have been three days without a positive test, leaving the number of infected people in the French territory at 15, one of whom is in hospital.

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