Testing for covid-19 in Malaita Province is expected to begin soon at Kiluufi hospital following the installation of a GeneXpert machine on 27 January 2022.
Provincial Health workers this week were also trained on how to conduct tests using Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits to support the testing process in the Province.
Parts of the Province were listed as potential hotspots following the outbreak which was traced back to Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands and later in Honiara on January 10.
Auki township
Since the outbreak, the Malaita Provincial Disaster Operations Committee (P-DOC) was activated on 17 January 2022 following the confirmation of positive cases recorded in Ontong Java.
Contact tracing and testing of COVID suspects in Ontong Java confirmed 6 positive results. Contract tracing and swabbing continue for all contacts of the positive cases.
Contact tracing is also arranged for the Southern Regions of Malaita soon after concerns were raised by people living in the region due to MV. Awka’s traveling history to some parts of the region.
Meanwhile, most communities surrounding Auki town have activated their own temporary lockdowns and restrictive movements to assist health responses while many have sought vaccination in Auki in recent days.
The P-DOC team in Auki is preparing Aligegeo Secondary School as a temporary quarantine facility. Additional accommodation has also been identified to accommodate Clinical Teams and other frontline staff to manage the facility.
THE Covid-19 variant transmitting in the country is yet to be identified, due to technical issues experienced by the Australian Laboratory that the samples were sent to.
Minister for Health and Medical Services, Dr. Culwick Togamana made this confirmation in his address on Thursday.
“Like you, I am also interested to know the type of COVID-19 variant which is in transmission in our country, unfortunately, there have been some technical issues experienced by the Australian Laboratory that we sent our samples to,” Togamana said.
He adds that they are redoing the test results which should be ready by this Friday (today).
Togmana also stressed that they will be sending more samples to Australia today.
In addition, Senior Technical Advisors to Ministry of Health and Medical Dr. Yogesh Chudhri confirmed that more samples have been sent to Australia today.
Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.
Covid-19 cases continue to rise on daily basis as the battle to control community spread continues in the capital Honiara.
A further 143 new positive cases were recorded in the last 24 hours from 8:00 am January 27 to 8:00 am January 28, increasing the total positive cases to 898.
Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil announced the results this afternoon while indicating that the number is sure to increase as testing continues at the NRH molecular laboratory.
Testing in Gizo in Western Province and Auki in Malaita Province are likely to provide further increases to the current Honiara statistics in the coming days.
Current statistics indicated 5 deaths since the outbreak with 5 cases currently in critical condition and 25 recoveries.
Honiara city currently records 38 hotspots since 27 January while Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands remains listed. Other potential hotspots yet to be declared included, Auki and some areas in the Southern region of Malaita Province, Marovo lagoon, Noro, Munda, and Gizo in the western province. Monitoring is also ongoing for parts of the Central Islands and Makira-Ulawa Provinces.
ROYAL Solomon Islands Police Force at Gizo has beefed up operations in an effort to stop COVID-19 transmission in the township.
Police patrol vehicle reached out to all corners of Gizo with the information around 2 pm today advising people not to move around.
The message was clear and that is people should limit unnecessary movements as localized lockdown is still enforced.
The approach was taken after people failed to respect the localized lockdown which was imposed as of yesterday 6 pm to Sunday 6 am.
However, unconfirmed reports reaching Island Sun Gizo, yesterday evening states that the localized lockdown was not legal given that the National Operation Committee (NOC) and Oversight Committee is yet to grant and announce the lockdown.
Reports alleged that responsible authorities are yet to bless the proposed lockdown.
It states that NOC will bless the proposed lockdown today.
WESTERN Provincial Disaster Operation Committee (WPDOC) has received $90,000 from the National Disaster Office to deal with the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Provincial Secretary of Western Province Jeffrey Wickham announced the support during one of WPDOC’s meetings this week.
He said the fund will assist WPDOC with logistical support in making sure COVID-19 response plans are effectively carried out.
“We have received $90,000.00 from the national government through the disaster office to help us better respond to the current outbreak.
“This funds will help us to implement our needed plans so we better prepare and respond to the situation,” Wickham said.
He said the situation is critical as such response plans must be effectively carried out immediately.
CHAIRMAN of Emergency Operation Centre for Covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital Dr. Rex Maukera has called on people in the province to continue practicing covid-19 measures.
Maukera made the call following the confirmation of two additional positive cases for the province, bringing it to seven cases at the moment.
He said the province and the country is facing very critical times and cooperatIon is crucial to deal with the covid-19 situation in the country.
Dr. Maukera said authorities continue to issue information on the situation and it’s important that the public must be heedful of advice given.
“I must reiterate that call, especially to the public in Auki and Malaita province to uphold wearing of facemask, social distancing, hand-washing, and limit public movement.
“And if anyone who is yet to get their vaccines, they must do so.
“The virus is now in our midst and we must work collectively to face the current situation,” he said.
Maukera also thanked communities throughout the province for taking up initiatives to implement community covid-19 plans to stop further transmission of the virus.
He urged leaders from all stakeholders within to put required resources together and work with their people in tackling this situation.
Maukera said the provincial health will continue to liaise with people in the province during this critical time.
The impact of COVID-19 around the world has claimed and disrupted the lives of peoples and slowed and contracted the global economy, regrettably, Solomon Islands has registered its first COVID-19 related deaths.
As community transmission of the virus surges in the Solomon Islands, China and Solomon Islands stand in solidarity with the families and governments, and people who have lost loved ones to the pandemic and remain steadfast to work with everyone to fight the pandemic.
On January 26, 2022, Cabinet Ministers of Solomon Islands, Dr. Culwick Togamana, Minister of Health and Medical Services, and Anthony Veke, Minister for Police, National Security and Correctional Services along with His Excellency Ambassador LI Ming of the People’s Republic of China Embassy in the Solomon Islands were at Honiara International Airport to receive the emergency humanitarian assistance supplies from the People’s Republic of China.
China’s Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Mi Ling
The two countries further celebrate the strength of their relationship with China’s support today of presenting 50,000 Sinopharm vaccines, 20,000 Rapid Antigen Test Kits, 21,000 disposal syringes, 50 tent units, and financial humanitarian assistance of USD320,000 to the Government of Solomon Islands through the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
The consignment also includes the second shipment of Anti-Riot Gears, equipment, and uniforms for the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force to assist the Police in carrying its law and order mandate during this challenging time. The first shipment was done back in late December 2021.
The partnership is given in solidarity and with a “umi tugeda” spirit of togetherness, echoing the global mantra that no one is safe until everyone is safe.
The medical supplies and assistance received by the Solomon Islands from China support the country’s efforts to halt the surge of the virus within our communities and isolate and eliminate the virus from our shores.
The two countries further agree to keep working together in tackling the pandemic with China’s consideration of an additional 300,000 Rapid Antigen Test Kits and the contribution of building a large tent field hospital.
In responding to Solomon Islands’ immediate needs, the Solomon Islands welcome China’s provision of 1000 bags of rice, 300 cartons of tuna of food to support vulnerable households during the pandemic.
Solomon Islands welcome the arrival of the Chinese Technical and expertise team to further assess National Referral Hospital (NRH) as part of the NRH improvement initiative, water and security needs of the country as we deepen cooperation with the goal of strengthening our collective preventive action to control and eliminate the pandemic and build quality lives in a secured environment for the people of Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands Government wishes to use this platform to urge all its national who have to be vaccinated to get vaccinated, it is the best protection and shield for our families, our country, and ourselves against the onslaught of the virus.
Solomon Islands recognize all partners including China for past support in the last two years in supporting the construction of the PCR lab, isolation wards of NRH, and supporting earlier shipments of vaccines and medical supplies.
Minister of Police, Anthony Veke
The takes this opportunity to acknowledge all security partners including China who have worked closely with the Government in maintaining security, law, and order and continue to build up the capacity and capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force.
The Solomon Islands once again thank China for the humanitarian assistance and commitment to keep building a strong resilient Solomon Islands with the necessary infrastructure and security to allow peace, progress, and prosperity to shape Solomon Islands’ future.
—Joint Media ReleaseBetween Solomon Islands Government and PRC Embassy in the Solomon Islands
THE Gen X-PERT machine at the Kilu’ufi hospital in Auki will be put to use soon, enabling testing for COVID-19 in the province.
Chairman of the Emergency Operation Centre for Covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital Dr Rex Maukera confirmed this to Island Sun today.
He said the machine was installed last year but due to the lab not meeting standards for infection and prevention control aimed at protecting health workers, the machine was not used until now.
Maukera, however said with the current need for the use of the machine they started work on the lab last week and it is nearing completion.
He said as long as the work is done and it meets the required standards, tests for COVID-19 will be conducted at Kilu’ufi hospital.
Maukera also said that training for lab technicians who will be using the lab is currently happening at Kilu’ufi hospital.
He said they are looking forward to completing work on the lab and the training of technicians this weekend to prepare the machine for use by next week.
The Gen X-PERT machined was installed at Kilu’ufi hospital as part of preparations by the Ministry of Health (MHMS) through the provincial health for covid-19 in the province.
The machine has multiple uses as it can also be used for screening resistant TB cases.
TWO additional vaccination sites were identified to accommodate unvaccinated and partial vaccinated people in Honiara when the lock-down is lifted.
This was confirmed by Diane Maggie Row from the Public Health Promotion Department of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
“We have two new additional vaccinated sites in Honiara, they are Kukum SDA car park and Honiara City Council Car Park, “Row said.
She said as of January 31st, next week if the lockdown is to be lifted these sites will be opened for people to go and get their jabs
These two additional vaccination sites are for those living in Honiara.
In addition, the Ministry of Health has advised those who will be vaccinated to wear face masks, maintain social distancing, and also frequently wash their hands when queuing for their vaccine dose.
AUKI town has recorded an additional two positive cases of covid-19 after results from six swabs sent to Honiara last week came back.
Chairman of Emergency Operation Centre for Covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital and Director of Malaita Provincial health, Dr. Rex Maukera confirmed this to this paper today.
He said upon contact tracing and swabs carried out on six people last week, the EOC has sent six samples to Honiara for testing and now has returned with the results.
Maukera said the result was; two returned positive and four were negative.
He said the result has shown an additional two cases to the first five and Auki is at the moment with seven cases.
Maukera said although the increase happened at a slower pace compared to Honiara, Auki town and the province at large are still at high risk with the virus.
“With that, I call on residents in Auki and people from the province to continue to listen out for health information on the current situation and practice covid-19 measures,” he said.
Maukera also said that recently they had completed contact tracing on some people and they will soon carry out testing (swabs) on them to send for testing.
He said at the moment the original five cases and two new ones are in stable conditions as they continue to monitor them.
