New Caledonia has recorded a further 1,843 Covid-19 infections over the past three days as the pandemic is again accelerating.
The latest figures have pushed the number of cases since the September 2021 Delta outbreak to above 20,000.
21 people are in hospital, including one in intensive care.
The seven-day average has neared 500 cases after being under 20 a month ago.
The virus has spread to all three provinces and most communes.
A vaccination center against the Covid-19 is set up at the Magenta Tower in the north east of the capital, Noumea. Photo: Clotilde Richalet / Hans Lucas
At the end of last week, restrictions related to Covid-19 were extended for another four weeks, limiting the size of meetings and upholding mask wearing obligation.
In September, Congress passed a law making vaccinations mandatory, but its application has been repeatedly deferred and is now expected to be enforced before the end of February.
Frontline staff and healthcare employees are being threatened with fines, but there is no provision to sanction the general public.
When the law was drawn up, New Caledonia was Covid-19 free but within days the Delta variant was detected, triggering a state of emergency and a month-long lockdown.
More than 280 people died in the outbreak.
The use of a health pass has been mandated since the end of the lockdown in October in order to be able to enter venues.
The vaccination law as well as other restrictions have been criticised by civil society groups, with several demonstrations having been held in Noumea in defiance of the meeting rules.
