Known for its fully vaccinated population against the coronavirus, Seychelles has closed schools and canceled sporting activities for two weeks as infections surge.
According to Jude Gedeon, Seychelles Public Health Commissioner said that nearly 65 percent of the active COVID-19 cases were those who have not been vaccinated or have received only one dose. “There are currently 1,068 active cases numbers, among which 84 percent are Seychellois and 16 percent are foreigners,” she was further quoted by the Seychelles News Agency as saying.
Jude Gedeon also said President Wavel Ramkalawan will hold a meeting close to May 24 when a decision on whether to lift the restrictions would be taken
The measures, which include bans on the intermingling of households and the early closure of bars, come even as the country has fully vaccinated more than 60% of its adult population with two doses of Covid-19 vaccines. The curbs are similar to those last imposed at the end of 2020. “Despite of all the exceptional efforts we are making, the Covid-19 situation in our country is critical right now,
Seychelles, located off the coast of Africa, was among the first countries in the world to reopen to international tourism after the first COVID wave last year. Recently, the tourist-reliant country revised its guidelines for foreign arrivals and said only vaccinated visitors from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, who have completed two weeks after their second dose, are permitted to enter the island nation with proof of COVID-19 vaccination.
“Despite of all the exceptional efforts we are making, the Covid-19 situation in our country is critical right now, with many daily cases reported last week,” Peggy Vidot, the nation’s health minister, said at a press conference Tuesday.
Sources: The GateWay Pundit, Bloomberg, Yahoo News