BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
FOUR of our students in the Philippines have tested positive for covid-19.
They have been taken in by the Philippines Red Cross to be kept in isolation and monitored, prime minister Manasseh Sogavare announced in his special national address yesterday.
Government does not say whether they are asymptomatic or otherwise.
One of the four was pregnant during diagnosis and has since delivered her baby. Both mother and infant are in hospital and will be transferred to the Philippines red cross facility to be quarantined, Mr Sogavare said.
“The other three positive cases are already in Red Cross accommodation to complete their quarantine,” he said.
Sogavare urges Solomon Islands students in the Philippines who have not yet moved into government-arranged hotel accommodation to do so quickly.
“You have the next two days to all shift to the hotel.
“If you do not shift to the hotel, we will assume you are not interested to be considered under the government arranged repatriation programme and that you will look after your own repatriation costs.
“I implore the parents or guardians of the students who are still living outside of the government arranged hotels in Manila to ask their children to move to the hotels within the next 48 hours.
“Failure to do this will mean that any student who had not shifted to the government arranged accommodation will be responsible for their own repatriation. Government will only be responsible for those that are in the government arranged accommodation,” he said.
Photo: WHO website
