Covid-19: state of health emergency declared in five overseas territories

Lhe Omicron wave is sweeping overseas. Consequently, the government has declared a state of health emergency in Guadeloupe, Guyana, Mayotte, Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy, overseas territories, because “the circulation of Covid-19 is experiencing a considerable increase” , according to a decree presented on Wednesday January 5 in the Council of Ministers. The decree affirms that, “given the hospital capacities of these territories and the vaccination coverage of their population, the current epidemic wave of Covid-19 constitutes a health disaster endangering (…) the health of the population”.

Réunion and Martinique have been in a state of health emergency since December 27. In Guadeloupe, for example, on January 4, the incidence rate, an indicator used to measure the circulation of the epidemic, is 1,820, up 549% over the last seven days, according to the decree. The department, hit hard in July-August by the fourth wave of Covid-19, has been shaken for a month and a half by a social protest, in particular against the vaccination obligation of caregivers and firefighters. Only 40% of the island’s population received at least one dose of vaccine at the end of 2021, and 31% that of Guyana.

Towards saturation of hospital structures

“With this level of vaccination coverage, the risks of developing serious forms of the disease are greatly increased and could quickly lead to saturation of hospital structures in the various territories concerned”, notes the text presented to the Council of Ministers. Hospital pressure is already “very strong in Guyana, where the occupancy rate of intensive care beds is greater than 190% of the initial capacity”. It is “close to 80%” in Guadeloupe, “even though the situation in France”, affected by the Omicron surge, “significantly limits the capacity to send reinforcements or the organization of medical evacuations”. The state of health emergency decreed “will allow the prefects to take measures to prohibit travel outside the home”.

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