COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Pierre and Miquelon


The COVID-19 pandemic was confirmed to have reached the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon on 5 April 2020. Earlier, ferry service between Newfoundland and Saint Pierre and Miquelon had been suspended. Air and ferry service between the islands of St. Pierre and Miquelon have been reduced. The tourism sector is expected to be affected by the pandemic and related measures. The collectivity has been under lockdown since 17 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

April 2020

On 5 April, the first case was confirmed in the collectivity.
On 25 April, the Overseas Minister announced a gradual deconfinement in Saint Pierre and Miquelon starting Monday 27 April. The majority of businesses will reopen except for bars and restaurants. Schools will probably reopen in the first week of May. Travel between the two islands will resume on 11 May. Restrictions on sports and gatherings will remain in place and there will be review of the deconfinement every two weeks.

May 2020

On 4 May, it was reported that the more than 270 students stranded in metropolitan France and Canada will return to Saint Pierre and Miquelon from 12 May onward. They will be quarantined for 14 days and tested. The students in metropolitan France will be repatriated in two groups.