~Significant increase in the number of cases in Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy~
MARIGOT:--- According to the latest health bulletin dated August 12, the number of active cases is increased to 41 for Saint-Martin, and to 8 for Saint-Barthélémy.
Sint Maarten government has counted 144 active cases, including 7 hospitalized cases.
Need to slow down the spread of the virus by limiting displacement:
It is imperative that a collective effort is made to minimize the spread of the virus as much as possible. This difficult effort today is however vital to preserving 2020. tourist season.
Thus, due to the increase in the number of cases and limited health capacities, the Prefecture and the ARS, after exchanges with the Collectivity of Saint-Martin and in agreement with the Ministry of Overseas, decide to extend the traffic restriction between the two parts of the island until September 1st.
The traffic between the French part and the Dutch part of the island of Saint-Martin is therefore strictly limited to the following compelling reasons: compelling family reason (death), emergency health reason (sanitary transport, ambulances), and motive compelling professional.
These reasons will be checked on the basis of certificates already issued by the Prefecture. Medical requests can be made at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The checks will, therefore, continue at the roundabout of Bellevue and Belleplaine by the police at the border and the National Gendarmerie. The border points of Cupecoy and the Baie aux Oysters will also remain blocked.
By way of derogation, carriage of goods is also allowed to travel between the two parts of the island.
Authorized travelers from Juliana airport (from metropolis, Schengen area or the list of safe countries) will be allowed to pass by presenting their plane ticket, their PCR test less than 72 hours with a negative result and the certificate on honor awarded by the company or present on the website of the Préfecture (undefined).
These mandatory measures are essential to limit the spread of the virus and avoid reaching the capacity limits of our health system. They are temporarily put in place time to control the spread of the virus on the island.
Population health is the only argument that must guide our decisions.
