French Polynesia lifts Covid-19 restrictions

French Polynesia capital Papeete. Photo: avenuecalgary.com. Sketched by the Pan Pacific Agency.

PAPEETE, May 21, 2020, RNZ. French Polynesia has decided to lift internal restrictions imposed in March over the Covid-19 outbreak, Radio New Zealand reported.

The president Edouard Fritch and the French High Commissioner Dominique Sorain made the announcement after determining that the coronavirus stopped circulating.

French Polynesia recorded 60 cases of Covid-19.

From tomorrow gatherings of any size are allowed, church services can resume and sport events can be held.

Air Tahiti is cleared to resume internal flights, with Mr Fritch encouraging people to travel in order to stimulate the economy.

Primary school will reopen on Monday with other schools to follow in early June.

In his address, he thanked Mr Sorain for the French state’s support, adding that co-operation with the French High Commissioner meant having a dialogue and did not amount to submission.

The only measure retained from the lockdown is the ban on the sale of alcohol from Friday to Sunday.

The international carrier Air Tahiti Nui is expected to resume services in July and Mr Fritch said the current quarantine rules would remain in force.

He said further discussions would follow to revive the economy as 19,000 jobs were at risk.

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