New Caledonia lifts most Covid-19 restrictions, borders remain closed

New Caledonia will on Monday lift just about all restrictions imposed over the Covid-19 outbreak but keep the borders closed.

The president Thierry Santa said there had been no new cases recorded for 25 days and if the situation remained unchanged on Sunday, experts believe that it's 99.3 certain that the virus no longer circulates in New Caledonia.

From Monday and for a period of six weeks, events and meetings will be allowed if participants can be identified.

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People wearing masks will be able to go to cinemas, theatres and gambling outfits and they may use buses, ships and planes without requiring to keep distance.

What will remain banned are sport competitions and cultural festivals while night clubs and nakamals will have to stay shut.

Flights repatriating stranded residents are expected from Sydney and Auckland on 8 and 9 May while flights from France will have to wait until probably 14 May. – RNZ