Curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. on January 1, return of the gauges, what to remember

” The situation is worrying again “, and requires to strengthen the measures, indicates the prefect of Reunion on Wednesday, December 29. Measures adapted to the context of the department made possible by the establishment of a state of health emergency since Tuesday, December 28.

Reunion is facing an epidemic acceleration. The incidence rate is now 740 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, against 561 cases / 100,000 last week.

” We are in the Omicron wave “

“The situation is changing from day to day. Here we are, we are in the Omicron wave. For 2 days, the average has been 1250 cases per day, almost one in 4 cases screened is potentially a case of the Omicron variant. We are indeed entering the Omicron wave. The threshold of 2,000 cases per day will be exceeded. “

Martine Ladoucette, director of the ARS of Reunion

Martine Ladoucette evokes a situation unprecedented by its magnitude in risk of contamination, but should cause neither panic nor recklessness. The Omicron variant twice as contagious as the Delta variant, according to the WHO. ” But we also know that it is not more dangerous, and even the opposite “, she adds.

Curfew, return of gauges, mandatory teleworking …

Strong measures must be taken urgently, in addition to the national measures announced by the Prime Minister and those already in force in Reunion, said Jacques Billant.

He announces, from Saturday January 1, for 3 weeks:

• A curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., from Saturday January 1 to Sunday January 23 inclusive. Only people with a compelling reason may travel during curfew hours.
• Prohibition of events and gatherings on public roads, with the exception of protest and worship demonstrations and fairground food markets. It concerns cultural or commercial events, such as flea markets, garage sales or flea markets.
• The ban on private festive gatherings in establishments open to the public, such as municipal halls and municipal gymnasiums.
• The return of gauges in all establishments open to the public. They will be set up according to the surface area of ​​the establishments, for all shops and markets. For covered fairground markets it is set at 8m² per person, for open air fairground markets at 4m² per person. For businesses less than 10m², a single customer can be accommodated, for businesses between 10 and 400m², 10m² per customer and businesses greater than 400m², 75% of the maximum reception capacity.
• LBars, restaurants, cinemas, performance halls, museums, libraries, sports establishments, zoos, salons, fairs, covered and uncovered will also be subject to a gauge of 75% of the maximum reception capacity. In bars and restaurants, tables will be limited to 6 people.

Additional measures to those already in force

These new measures complement the measures already in force in the department, said Jacques Billant:

• Wearing a mask is compulsory in all public spaces
• Ban on gatherings of more than 10 people, picnics and bivouacs
• Prohibition of the transport of sound equipment, evening entertainment services and catering activities as part of festive activities at home
• Ban on dance activities in all establishments open to the public
• Closing of nightclubs
• Ban on the consumption of food and drink standing in all establishments open to the public or during demonstrations. This consumption must be done at the table.
• Ban on New Years Eve in public spaces and in places usually consecrated in public spaces
• Ban on gatherings or festive events on the sidelines of the New Year on a public highway
• Fireworks ban on December 31

In accordance with the announcements made by the Prime Minister, the Prefect of La Réunion asks all administrations and companies to ensure, when possible, to set up 3 days of teleworking per week minimum.

Jacques Billant will ask the police to strengthen their controls on the respect of the wearing of the mask, on the absence of gatherings in the public space, on the controls of the health pass in establishments open to the public and also on the controls of false health passes.

Vaccination to reduce hospital pressure

60,000 Reunionese over 50 are particularly at risk because they are not vaccinated or have not benefited from their booster at least 4 months after their second dose, said Martine Ladoucette. The unvaccinated are also at risk, insists the director of the ARS of Reunion.

In one week, intensive care admissions almost tripled. To allow more hospitalizations, and to arrive at 107 intensive care beds against 89 currently, it would be necessary to close 13 operating theaters on the island and to give up many scheduled surgical operations, warns Martine Ladoucette.

Two doses of the vaccine are no longer sufficient against the Omicron variant, it is necessary to benefit from the booster dose from the 3rd month after the second dose, she says. 290,000 Reunionese are therefore now eligible for the booster dose. The 3-dose vaccination is nearly 70% effective against the Omicron variant, says the director of the ARS.

Anyone over the age of 18, who has received a second dose for at least 6 months will necessarily have to recall to keep their health pass. The 6-month period will be reduced to 4 months from February 4, 2022, if the bill currently being examined in the National Assembly is adopted, specifies the director of the ARS.

“Vaccination still protects against the risks of contamination, but no longer sufficiently on its own, especially against the Omicron variant. So compliance with barrier gestures is more essential than ever.”

Martine Ladoucette, director of the ARS of Reunion