French Polynesian Covid-19 cases now at 39

6:46 pm on 4 April 2020

French Polynesia has registered two more Covid-19 cases, raising the total to 39.

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Photo: supplied

A government statement said one person remained in hospital.

Yesterday, the health minister Jacques Raynal said the virus had spread.

He said one positive test result showed no connection to the other known cases which were linked to overseas travel.

A nightly curfew is in place across all islands to slow the propagation of the virus.

A ban on the sale of alcohol has also been extended until restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 outbreak are lifted.

The ban was initially due to end on 5 April.

It had been issued almost two weeks ago after a weekend of incidents in which people ignored limits on private and public gatherings.

At the time the president Edouard Fritch said alcohol consumption had posed enormous problems.

After orders to stay home had been widely ignored, the curfew was imposed which was due to expire on 15 April.

Confusion surrounds Air Tahiti Nui plane

Meanwhile the leader of the opposition Tahoeraa Huiraatira party, Gaston Flosse, said a Air Tahiti Nui plane sent to China this week was actually in Tokyo.

In an open letter to the president Edouard Fritch, Flosse said according to his contacts in Shanghai, the plane never arrived there.

Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787

Air Tahiti Nui Boeing 787 Photo: Copyright(2018)The Boeing Company

He said the plane was in Tokyo because there were no masks in Shanghai ready for pick-up.

Earlier this week, the government said the airliner had left for China and was due back yesterday.

Last week, Mr Fritch said the procurement of medical supplies from China was organised following logistical problems getting restocked from France.

Gaston Flosse said Mr Fritch should send the plane to France because masks were there but the French High Commission had no plane to fly them to Tahiti.

Earlier this week, the French Polynesian government said there would be a second flight to China to fetch medical supplies.

The Chinese consul in French Polynesia also said that Chinese cities would donate supplies to French Polynesian sister cities.