The need to have a compelling reason to go to New Caledonia will be lifted from November 1, given the circulation of the Covid-19 virus in the archipelago, which no longer justifies locking its borders, a indicated this Saturday the High Commissioner of the Republic.
“Today, the incidence rates observed demonstrate that the risk of contamination is higher locally and that the restrictions on the freedom to come and go do not entail any serious health risk”, indicates the High Commissioner of the Republic , Patrice Faure, in a letter addressed to the leaders of the Caledonian communities.
Only authorized vaccinated persons
The principle of overriding reasons is therefore “repealed from November 1, 2021”. On the other hand, in accordance with the decree of September 17, only vaccinated people are authorized to go to New Caledonia. On arrival, a coronavirus screening test and 7-day isolation at home or in a hotel remain mandatory.
The compelling reasons had been established in 2020 at the start of the health crisis to protect the Caillou, which had remained free of Covid-19 for a long time, before the Delta variant of the virus had caused a violent epidemic since the beginning of September, which has so far killed 264 people. . The epidemic is now in decline due to containment measures and the progression of vaccination, but the incidence rate remains high at 195 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Currently, flights to New Caledonia remain subject to requisitions from the local government, which has announced an opening of borders on December 31, 2021.