MATA-UTU (AFP) - The Pacific archipelago of Wallis and Futuna has declared itself Covid-free, with no cases among the French remote islands' 11,500 inhabitants since April 1, the authorities said.

Many remote Pacific island nations have remained free of the virus after shutting the borders soon after the pandemic began, but the risk of an outbreak remains high.

The French overseas collectivity's administrator superior said on Thursday (July 15) that the area is "unanimously... free of circulation of the Covid-19 virus".

But mask wearing in public spaces remains mandatory and the authorities reminded residents that vaccination was "the only way to get out of the epidemic for good".

So far, 41 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated and more than 55 per cent has received one shot.

Experts have warned that the Pacific islands are vulnerable to fresh outbreaks.

Fiji, which managed 12 months without community transmission, has suffered a virus surge since April.

With daily cases exceeding 1,200 on Thursday, experts have said Fiji represents a grim case study in how quickly the Delta variant can spread among island populations.

Wallis and Futuna recorded 445 coronavirus cases between March and April, with seven deaths.