BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
THE country now has three covid-19 cases; one new one and two reactivated cases.
The new one is a returning student from the Philippines, and the two reactivated cases are persons who had returned from the UK. They had recovered and tested negative, but later tested positive.
This was confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare yesterday in his national address.
“Since my last address, I regret to advise that we have registered one additional case of COVID-19. This new case who is one of the students that arrived from Manila on 21st January 2021, has now brought to 18 cases, the official number of COVID-19 cases in our country.
“Apart from this new case, the last two cases from the UK that had turned negative had reactivated and have become positive again.
“This means we have three positive Covid-19 cases, only one of whom is new and the other two are reactivations. However, as I had indicated in my special address on Monday 29th January, the reactivated cases do not alter our official numbers, which remain at 18,” he said.
Sogavare said of these 18 cases, 14 are in the community, four are still at the field hospital including the student that had been brought back from Malaita province and who is still negative.
“I wish to reassure the public that we will only release the people who are still positive after they test negative for three consecutive times seven days apart after they become negative.
“Fellow citizens let me remind all of us that our fight against COVID-19 is far from over.
“Our resolve and commitment have been tested. So far, we have contained the virus at our quarantine stations and the field hospital.
“However, with God’s guidance and blessings, and together with the support from our development partners, and commitment from the people of this beautiful country, we have continued to move forward. God is our Redeemer,” he said.
