COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy

COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy
Disease	COVID-19
Virus strain	SARS-CoV-2
Location	Saint Barthélemy
Arrival date	1 March 2020; (11 months and 6 days)
Confirmed cases	127[1]
Active cases	33 (as of 25 November)
Recovered	94[1]
Deaths	0[1]
Government website
	guadelope.ars.sante.fr

The COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the French overseas collectivity of Saint Barthélemy on 1 March 2020. The last positive case was on 31 March 2020.[2] On 21 April, the last case recovered.[3] Between 18 and 24 July, a new case was imported.[4]

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[5][6]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[7][8] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[9][7]

Saint Barthélemy is a small island with a population of 9,793 people[10] The island has a small hospital (Hôpital de Bruyn), however testing for COVID-19[11] and specialized health care has to be performed in Guadeloupe.[12][13] As an overseas collectivity crises are handled by the Prefect. The island can start testing locally in early May.[14] The current Prefect for Saint Barthélemy and Saint Martin is Sylvie Feucher.

Timeline

COVID-19 cases in Saint Barthélemy () Deaths Recoveries Active cases MarMarAprAprMayMayJunJunJulJulAugAugSepSepOctOctNovNov Last 15 daysLast 15 days
Date			# of cases
2020-03-01			1
⋮			1(=)
2020-03-15			3(+200%)
⋮			3(=)
2020-03-27			4(+33%)
2020-03-28			5(+25%)
⋮			5(=)
2020-03-31			6(+20%)
2020-04-01			6(=)
⋮			6(=)
2020-04-12			6(=)
⋮			6(=)
2020-04-18			6(=)
⋮			6(=)
2020-04-21			6(=)
⋮			6(=)
2020-07-24			7(+12%)
⋮			7(=)
2020-07-31			9([15]+29%)
⋮			9(=)
2020-08-05			10([16]+11%)
⋮			10(=)
2020-08-08			13([17]+30%)
⋮			13(=)
2020-08-17			16([18]+23%)
⋮
2020-08-22			16([19]=)
⋮
2020-09-02			18([20]+13%)
⋮
2020-09-09			21([21]+17%)
⋮
2020-09-20			45([1]+114%)
⋮			45(=)
2020-10-14			67
⋮			67(=)
2020-10-21			77
⋮			77(=)
2020-10-26			83
⋮			83(=)
2020-11-04			90
⋮			90(=)
2020-11-12			109
⋮			109(=)
2020-11-18			127
Data sourced from guadelope.ars.sante.fr From 13 May onwards, there will no longer be daily reports by ARS, but instead a weekly report every Friday, however press releases will be issued if there is important news.[22]

March 2020

A resident of the French island of Saint Barthélemy was diagnosed with COVID-19 on 1 March. His parents on the neighbouring island of Saint Martin also tested positive.[23]

Three cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19) were confirmed in the French island of St. Barthélemy (St. Barts) and French Saint Martin on 1 March. The cases were confirmed by the Institut Pasteur Laboratory of Guadeloupe which is conducting tests for the virus. The case involves a resident of St. Barthélemy and his visiting relatives. The person was confined at home in St. Barthélemy and under daily surveillance while his parents are isolated in the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital in French Saint Martin. The couple had come from Paris, France, to visit their son, who lives in Saint-Barthélemy.[11]

Containment was put in place on 15 March with limitation of outings and prohibition of swimming.

In all, 6 people were sick (3 men and 3 women). None of them developed any serious symptoms requiring hospitalization.

On 24 March, the confinement orders have been strengthened: people may only leave their house for essential travel; markets are closed; gatherings are forbidden; non-essential businesses should close.[24]

April 2020

On 16 April, after two weeks without new cases, swimming was again authorized on the beaches of the island.[25]

The last case on the island was declared cured on 21 April.[3]

As of 23 April, the Pasteur Institute in Guadeloupe have analysed 84 tests from Saint Barthélemy. Special monitoring is carried out at retirement homes (EHPAD), however no cases have been reported for the island.[26]

On 24 April, Air Caraïbes announced that flights between Saint Martin (Grand Case-Espérance Airport not Princess Juliana International Airport), Saint Barthélemy, and Gaudeloupe will be resuming as of today.[27]

On 30 April, Bruno Magras, president of the collectivity, announce that all services, including schools, restaurants, bars, sport and cultural activities will be reopen on the 11th May.[28]

May 2020

On 2 May, the Collectivity announced the arrival of local testing equipment, and will be able to test up to 16 tests per hour to prepare for deconfinement and a return of the virus. €2 million has been allocated for testing since April.[14]

On 9 May, an amendment of Michel Magras, Senator of Saint Barthélemy, to limit the quarantine to people who had tested positive, in order to resume tourism, failed to pass.[29]

Preventive measures

The airport and port are closed.[30] Local flights have been allowed again since 24 April.[27]
All restaurants and bars were closed, all schools were closed, and all gatherings were banned. Until the 11th of May when President Bruno Magras allowed their reopening.[30]
All non-essential businesses are closed.[24]
It is prohibited to leave the house except for essential journeys.[30]
The restriction of visits to the beach and swimming have been repealed as of the 16th of April.[25]
From 11 May onwards, schools, businesses, restaurants, bars will reopen as long as they abide to social distancing.[31]

Statistics

Second wave

Chronology of the number of active cases

First wave