THE Country has recorded 48 new cases of covid-19 from 8am yesterday to 8am this morning.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said this is the largest increase in the number of covid-19 cases recorded so far.
Those affected in the latest surge in numbers include staff and patients at the Emergency department of the National Referral Hospital.
47 of the recorded cases are linked to the MV Awka passenger that was announced yesterday, while health authorities are investigating the source of infection for the 48th case.
Prime Minister Sogavare explained that from the 48 recorded:
- 28 cases are from a vessel that was exposed to passengers from Ongtong Java on another vessel and were returning to Ongtong Java.
- 9 cases are family members of the one person from arrived from Ongtong Java on January 10th and was tested positive on Tuesday night.
- 4 are staff of the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority and Island Enterprise Limited who had come in contact with the crew and a passenger from the vessel that arrived on January 10th.
- 2 cases are recorded from the Lord Howe Settlement.
- 1 from the Rove Police headquarters.
- 9 cases from the Emergency Department of the National Referral Hospital, 3 staff and 6 patients
The Prime Minister also warned that some passengers of the vessel that arrived on January 10th have already travelled to other provinces including Noro and Santa-Catalina in Makira
“The Captain also disembarked after arriving and attended a funeral somewhere on Guadalcanal.
He said the latest cases and movements of passengers and crew of the vessel simply means these people could have already spread the virus.
He stressed the importance of people following covid-19 measures and urged those not vaccinated to do so in the earliest time.
The Prime Minister further warned that the number of infection is bound to increase.
