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11 November 2022

Wallis experiencing Covid surge

Tuesday 26 July 2022 | Written by RNZ | Published in Pacific Islands, Regional

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Wallis experiencing Covid surge
Photo: RNZ

More people are succumbing to Covid-19 on the French territory of Wallis due to the refusal to vaccinate and test.

There were 174 cases of Covid-19 recorded on Sunday.

The director of the public health agency, Dr Bernadette Worms, said the population can not be relied on to test for Covid-19 on its own and must come to dispensaries to test, so she thinks the spreads must be greater than the figures recorded.

"We also think there are people that aren't coming because they don't want to isolate. Others think they have mild symptoms that are unrelated to Covid and think it's nothing. So we think there are about 30-40% of people that have it and have not come to get their test."

"We have continued the campaign, but with limited success. Seeing the virus coming into the country some got vaccinated but most of them think since the situation is not alarming they don't bother. Last week we injected 17 first vaccine shots, 16 second shots, 41 first boosters and 12 second boosters - nonethless its really not much."

Two cases were hospitalised last week, but stayed for a limited time.

According to Dr Worms the population can't be given portable PCR tests as they do not know how to do it, therefore the only way to count each Covid-19 case is for people to come to a test centre.

She also said there is a medical team available to travel to assist worsening cases.

The island of Futuna has been spared from any contact of Covid-19.