New Caledonia's Covid-19 outbreak is again spreading apace, with 1,515 new infections recorded in the past 24 hours.
The Omicron variant arrived last month and has reached all provinces, with the authorities saying there are more than 6,600 active cases.
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
Another patient has died, raising the tally to 284.
The latest figures have pushed the total number of cases since the September Delta outbreak to above 22,000.
About 77 percent of the population is fully vaccinated.
As of yesterday, antigen tests are in general no longer free, but will cost a minimum $US27.
They are however, still available for people who are symptomatic or defined as close contacts of an infected individual.
The new charges have raised concern that they will make air travel even more expensive.
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 the month.
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.
The use of a health pass has been mandated since the end of the lockdown in October 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.
