New Caledonia lockdown extended

New Caledonia authorities have extended the restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 outbreak for another week until 19 April.

The decision was announced after talks involving medical experts, the French High Commission, the government and the customary Senate.

The extension was the second time that a week had been added to the original lockdown declared on 19 March.

From 20 April the emergency measures will be changed, with details of what will be eased to be announced in the course of next week.

The customary Senate had been in favour of extending the restrictions for longer while some leaders in the mainly Kanak Loyalty Islands province asked for the terms of confinement to be relaxed.

The statement released today said 'the virus is not circulating in New Caledonia while the rest of the world is in a pandemic situation'.

18 positive Covid-19 cases have been recorded to date but none in the last four days.

>RNZ