Most Vaccinated Country Seeing Rapid Spike In COVID Cases

An East African nation that has fully vaccinated more than 60% of its population against COVID-19 is experiencing a rise in cases and has reintroduced restrictions to try to keep the numbers at bay.

Seychelles, an archipelago of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean off East Africa, is where the rise in cases is occurring. 

Per BBC News, Seychelles consists of nearly 100,000 people and has recorded close to 500 new cases in three days. Overall, the country has had about 1,000 active cases this week alone.

One-third of the active cases involves people who had been give two doses of the vaccine, the country's news agency reported. The others either had a single dose or had received no vaccine.

"Despite all the exceptional efforts we are making, the COVID-19 situation in our country is critical right now with many daily cases," Seychelles health minister Peggy Vidot told reporters.

The country is not administering either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines but instead using one manufactured in China.

"The Seychelles, which relies on tourism for much of its income, began vaccinating its population in January using Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine doses donated by the United Arab Emirates," BBC reported.

Almost 100% of the active cases in Seychelles have come among natives, with foreigners making up the remaining miniscule percentage, BBC relayed.

Given recent events, Seychelles is closing schools and cancelling sports for two weeks. Bars, restaurants and stores are returning to limited hours.