COVID-19 pandemic in Martinique


The COVID-19 pandemic in Martinique is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019, which was confirmed to have reached the French overseas department and region of Martinique on 5 March 2020.

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization 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.
The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003, but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.

Timeline

On 5 March, the first two cases of COVID-19 were confirmed. By 15 March, the first virus-related death had occurred and there were 15 infected patients in Martinique.
On 20 March, the prefect of Martinique issued a restrictive decree prohibiting, for a month, access to all the beaches and rivers of the island, as well as prohibiting hiking.