BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI
MALAITA Provincial Health Authority says there will be no lockdown for Auki town and the province, however public movement must be limited.
Chief Health Promotion Officer at Kilu’ufi hospital and Leader of the Provincial Covid-19 Risk Communication team, Kemuel Iro confirmed this to Island Sun following an awareness talk held in Auki on the current situation.
Iro clarified that at the moment, the provincial health authority through the ministry of health (MHMS) and responsible authorities did not recommend any lockdown for Malaita, except the one for Ongtong Java.
He said the speculation about a lockdown for Auki is a rumor and people must not take heed of since it did not come from rightful authorities.
However, Iro warned the public of Auki that Malaita province is currently considered high risk following the recent community transmission in Pelau (MOI).
Also, there are suspicions that parts of the province like South and East Are’ Are are at risk.
He said due to the risk; the provincial health through its Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre had advised the general public of Malaita to be aware of the following measures;
- Scale down on large social gathering
- Scale down in number of passengers in public transports
- Scale down movement within our communities
- And continue to practice hygiene, hand washing with soap and sanitizer and other covid-19 preventive measures.
Iro said communities in the province must take heed of these advices, because covid-19 community transmission is now in Pelau in MOI region of Malaita province.
“With that, I would like to reiterate my call to everyone in the five regions of the province to take health precaution measures right now in our communities,” he said.
Iro said the Provincial Risk Communication Team will be visiting communities in the province to reemphasise basic covid-19 measures and to give hope and confidence to people amidst this situation.
He said the Provincial Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at Kilu’ufi is activated 24/7, and if anyone is feeling ill with suspected symptoms of the virus to call them on 40128.
