The
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
in French Saint Martin was a part of the ongoing global
viral pandemic of
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the
French overseas collectivity
The French overseas collectivities (''collectivité d'outre-mer'' or ''COM'') are first-order administrative divisions of France, like the French regions, but have a semi-autonomous status. The COMs include some former French overseas colonies ...
of
Saint Martin on 1 March 2020. The island is split in a Dutch and French part, with the main airport on the Dutch side and the major harbour on the French side. The first positive test was a French couple from Saint Martin who returned from
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
via
Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy (french: Saint-Barthélemy, ), officially the Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. It is often abbreviated to St. Barth in French, and St. Barts in English ...
on 1 March 2020. They were screened and tested positive on the airport, but are counted on the French count. The island had a population of 35,334 in 2017.
Background
On 12 January 2020, the
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. The WHO Constitution states its main objective as "the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of ...
(WHO) confirmed that a
novel coronavirus
Novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a provisional name given to coronaviruses of medical significance before a permanent name is decided upon. Although coronaviruses are endemic in humans and infections normally mild, such as the common cold (caused by ...
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
In epidemiology, case fatality rate (CFR) – or sometimes more accurately case-fatality risk – is the proportion of people diagnosed with a certain disease, who end up dying of it. Unlike a disease's mortality rate, the CFR does not take int ...
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
March 2020
On 1 March, a couple from the French part of Saint Martin island were diagnosed with COVID-19
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
. Their son, who lives on the neighbouring island of Saint Barthélemy
Saint Barthélemy (french: Saint-Barthélemy, ), officially the Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Barthélemy, is an overseas collectivity of France in the Caribbean. It is often abbreviated to St. Barth in French, and St. Barts in English ...
, also tested positive.
On 17 March, the following measures were announced by the President Macron: It is prohibited to leave the house except for essential journeys, all restaurants and bars have to close, all schools have to close, and all gatherings are banned. Prefect Sylvie Feucher
Sylvie Feucher ( née Daniélo; born 26 February 1959 in Brest, France) is a French civil servant and was the Prefect of Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy from 2018 until 2020.
In 2004 Feucher was Chief Commissioner of the National Police in ...
has adopted the same measures on Saint Martin.
On 18 March, a fourth case was announced. The patient had returned from a trip to Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
.
Non-residents can no longer enter the island via the airport. After 22 March, nobody is allowed to enter the island.
On 23 March, ARS announced that the ICU capacity in Guadeloupe had been increased to 33 beds. Specialized care has to be performed in Guadeloupe.
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.
On 26 March, The collectivity's first death was recorded, after a 61-year-old died from breathing complications following a car accident. The patient tested positive for COVID-19 the following day. On the same day it was announced that last two cases were locally infected and not imported.
On 27 March, another case had been discovered bringing the total to 13. An American patient has been transferred to Miami
Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a coastal metropolis and the county seat of Miami-Dade County in South Florida, United States. With a population of 442,241 at ...
.
On 28 March, a support package for businesses was announced.
On 29 March, the border between the Dutch and French side was closed, and is jointly patrolled with the Sint Maarten government. On 6 April, the minor roads were physically blocked to prevent crossings. The border had been open since the Treaty of Concordia
The Treaty of Concordia, or the Partition Treaty of 1648, was signed on March 23, 1648, between the Kingdom of France and the Dutch Republic and divided the island of Saint Martin.
Signature
The treaty was signed by the two governors of the islan ...
of 1648.
On 30 March, the second death was announced. It concerned an 80-year-old man.
April 2020
On 5 April, two more cases were announced bringing the total active cases to 19. One of the cases is an inhabitant of Sandy Ground who was evacuated to Guadeloupe. Prefect Sylvie Feucher has ordered 16 more gendarmes.
On 9 April, the Préfecture asked people to stay at home during Easter
Easter,Traditional names for the feast in English are "Easter Day", as in the '' Book of Common Prayer''; "Easter Sunday", used by James Ussher''The Whole Works of the Most Rev. James Ussher, Volume 4'') and Samuel Pepys''The Diary of Samuel ...
. Unlike the Dutch side and other islands no curfew will be instituted, but anybody discovered outside without reason will be fined.
On 12 April, the 33rd Marine Infantry Regiment arrived in Marigot to provide logical support. A coordination point in Martinique
Martinique ( , ; gcf, label=Martinican Creole, Matinik or ; Kalinago: or ) is an island and an overseas department/region and single territorial collectivity of France. An integral part of the French Republic, Martinique is located in ...
was setup to coordinate the border controls of the Dutch Caribbean
The Dutch Caribbean (historically known as the Dutch West Indies) are the territories, colonies, and countries, former and current, of the Dutch Empire and the Kingdom of the Netherlands in the Caribbean Sea. They are in the north and south-wes ...
, France and United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
.
On 19 April, Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs
Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs (born 31 July 1968) is a Sint Maarten politician and the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten .
Early life and education
Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs was born on 31 July 1968 on Aruba to Nadia Willemsberg. As a child, Jacobs a ...
of Sint Maarten announced that the recent death was a Dutch citizen who was being treated on the French side. Last week he was flown to Guadelope
Guadeloupe (; ; gcf, label=Antillean Creole, Gwadloup, ) is an archipelago and overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. It consists of six inhabited islands—Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, and the ...
for critical care, however as a Dutch citizen he will be removed from the French Saint Martin count and added to the Dutch Sint Maarten count.
On 21 April, President Daniel Gibbs
Daniel Gibbs (born 8 January 1968 in Saint-Martin) is a French Saint-Martinois politician.
Political career
In 2011, he founded Union for Democracy.
He was elected MP to the French National Assembly on 17 June 2012 representing the cons ...
said that he does not expect the schools to open on 11 May as announced by Macron: "We will not put our children, the educational community and all families of this island in danger because of hasty decisions."
On 23 April, the third death was announced. The deceased was a 76-year-old man.
On 24 April, Air Caraïbes
Air Caraïbes () is a French airline based in the French West Indies, with its headquarters in Les Abymes in Guadeloupe. The airline's main base of operations is at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport in Guadeloupe, with a focus city at Mar ...
announced that flights between Saint Martin ( not Princess Juliana International Airport
Princess Juliana International Airport is the main airport on the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The airport is located on the Dutch side of the island, in the country of Sint Maarten, close to the shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon. In 2015, the ...
), Saint Barthélemy, and Gaudeloupe will be resuming as of today.
The Préfecture disclosed that 400 tourists have been repatriated up to now. There are still about 50 people stranded, but only those with an urgent reason will be repatriated.
On 30 April, the Collectivity will purchase two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening machines and two ventilators for the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital. Up to now 200 tests have been forwarded to the Pasteur Institute
The Pasteur Institute (french: Institut Pasteur) is a French non-profit private foundation dedicated to the study of biology, micro-organisms, diseases, and vaccines. It is named after Louis Pasteur, who invented pasteurization and vaccines ...
in Guadeloupe.
May 2020
On 2 May, President Daniel Gibbs informed President Macron that he requested that restaurants, bars and shops would reopen. Macron hinted that it was possible under certain conditions. Gibbs still has concerns about school reopening on Saint Martin. No definite decision has been taken yet.
From 4 May onwards, the Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital together with the Red Cross
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a humanitarian movement with approximately 97 million volunteers, members and staff worldwide. It was founded to protect human life and health, to ensure respect for all human beings, and ...
will start screening and testing the population starting with the French Quarter, Sandy Ground and St. James.
President Daniel Gibbs announced that the beaches will reopen on 8 May. The rules concerning reopening of businesses, shops and restaurant are being discussed, but there will be a deconfinement on 11 May.
President Daniel Gibbs announced in a press conference that the Collectivity will start to reopen on 11 May. There are still negotiations with the French government, and the Collectivity maintains their position on school reopening. An additional support program has been announced, and further support is under discussion.
On 7 May, it was announced that some primary schools will reopen on 18 May.
Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs
Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs (born 31 July 1968) is a Sint Maarten politician and the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten .
Early life and education
Silveria Elfrieda Jacobs was born on 31 July 1968 on Aruba to Nadia Willemsberg. As a child, Jacobs a ...
of the Dutch side announced that the Dutch side wants to reopen the borders on 18 May. President Daniel Gibbs of the French side wanted a reopening as well, however Prefect Sylvie Feucher wanted to keep the borders closed for now. It is now up to the French government to decide whether the internal borders will reopen. The internal border will reopen on 2 June.
July 2020
On 30 July 2020, Ludmila de Weever, minister of Tourism of Dutch Sint Maarten, announced that the border opening for passengers from the United States is still 1 August as scheduled. This has resulted in a response by Sylvie Feucher, Préfète Délguée of French Saint Martin who announced that Americans are not allowed on their side of the island, and the French-Dutch border will be closed to prevent circulation of the virus.
Preventive measures
* Airport and ports are closed. Local flights have resumed on Grand Case
Grand Case is a small town on the French side of the island of Saint Martin in the Caribbean. It lies on the Anguilla Channel
The Anguilla Channel (french: Canal d'Anguilla) is a strait in the Caribbean Sea. It separates the island of Angui ...
.
* The border between the Dutch and French side is closed. The internal border will reopen on 2 June.
* All restaurants and bars are closed, all schools are closed, and all gatherings are banned. Measures have been revoked. Bars can reopen from 30 May onwards.
* All non-essential businesses are closed. Measures have been revoked.
* It is prohibited to leave the house except for essential journeys. Measures have been revoked.
* Beaches will reopen on 8 May.
* Deconfinement will start on 11 May.
Statistics
Chronology of the number of active cases
See also
* COVID-19 pandemic in Anguilla
The COVID-19 pandemic in Anguilla is part of the ongoing global viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla on 26 March 2020. On 26 April 2020, all pati ...
* COVID-19 pandemic in Guadeloupe
* COVID-19 pandemic in Saint Barthélemy
* COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten
The COVID-19 pandemic in Sint Maarten, also known as the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Sint Maarten,was a part of the ongoing viral pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), which was confirmed to have reached the Dutch Caribbea ...
Notes
References
{{#related:COVID-19 pandemic in Guadeloupe
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
Saint Martin
Saint Martin
Disease outbreaks in the Collectivity of Saint Martin