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THE FOURTH TEST

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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA POODKOLO

Results to the fourth and final test for our quarantined students will indicate the situation of covid-19 in the country.

The test was carried out on Sunday and yesterday.

This round of tests determines whether quarantine periods should be extended or that students could be released back to society sooner.

So, if the virus slips past this last test unnoticed, then all we have worked hard for will be for naught when a carrier is released into the community.

However, with the laudable thorough and intense work by government since the first case to track, identify and contain the virus and eliminate it behind the walls of quarantine, the general outlook is one of optimism that ‘all will go well’.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in his national address yesterday, put emphasis on this final and “most important” test, expressing the anticipation being felt as we all look forward to the results.

“Based on our testing protocol for people arriving from high risk countries, the fourth the final test have been collected yesterday and today.

“As I indicated in my statement last Thursday, this round of test is perhaps our most important. The results will tell us which way the covid-19 situation is heading within our quarantine stations, so we await the results in anticipation,” said Sogavare.

He said the Oversight Committee will make a recommendation to Cabinet on whether the Quarantine period at the Chengs Quarantine Station will be extended and for how long, as well as the additional number of covid-19 testings during this period.

“Based on normal practice, the quarantine period is normally extended from the last date of exposure, which in the case of Chengs, is the 13th of October 2020, the date when the last sample was collected

“The extended period will apply to all students who are still at Chengs as well as to the students that had been shifted from Chengs to other quarantine facilities.

“A separate risk assessment is being made for those who are quarantined at GBR quarantine station because no one has tested positive from this site. A decision on those quarantined at the GBR quarantine station will be made after the results of the fourth test are available,” said Sogavare.

The number of active covid-19 cases in the country remains at three. All Asymptomatic.

POLICE MEDIATE TENSION OVER DEATH OF INFANT

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI

POLICE are calling for calm following reports of threats made on the Maluu health centre by relatives of a dead infant.

Police say the relatives are demanding compensation of 10 traditional shell-money for what they claim was “mishandling” by a nurse during the birth of a baby leading to the baby’s death.

Provincial Police Commander Malaita, Chief Suprintendant Stanley Riolo said from reports, the baby died less than an hour after birth.
Investigations are underway. Meanwhile, police are pleading the parents and relatives to refrain from doing anything unlawful and wait for the results.

Riolo said the result of the investigation will pave way towards addressing the matter.

AUKI POLICE ATTEND TO ‘THREAT ON SCHOOL’ REPORT

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Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI

AUKI police are heading to the northern region of Malaita to attend to reports of landowners threatening to close down a school.
Lilifia school is situated in Baegu.

Reports say landowners of land on which the school sits are demanding what they claim are outstanding payments or land rentals.

Provincial Police Commander Malaita, Chief Suprintendant Stanley Riolo said his officers will leave today to attend to the incident.
He explained that information received from principal of the school says the landowners demanded money from the school for transitional development into secondary division.

Riolo explained landowners had allowed land for the school for free so far and in order to allow development progress they must get paid for their land.

Thus, he said the school’s failure to meet the request has triggered the incident.

Riolo said children, parents and staffs are affected by the incident since the school was demanded to close down by the landowners.

Lack of rooms poses huge problem: PM

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

THE National Oversight Committee of Covid-19 and the camp management are facing lack of adequate quarantine facilities to ensure students have individual rooms.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare stressed this yesterday when announcing the third positive case of covid-19 in country.

“Fellow citizens, one major constraint faced by our oversight committee and the camp management had been the lack of adequate facilities to ensure each student has individual rooms.

“However, we have now managed to secure some additional facilities. Our Health Surveillance team is conducting in-depth risk assessment on the students today (yesterday).

“Those students whose risk exposure are considered low risk will be moved to the additional facilities to complete their quarantine there. Chengs quarantine station will however remain the main quarantine station for many of the students.”

COMMUNITY TRANSMISSION RISK LOW: PM

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Covid-19
Photo: Google

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

DESPITE the climbing number of covid-19 cases, the risk of community transmission remains low.

Government is quick to reassure citizens of this, following yesterday’s announcement of a third case of covid-19.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare, in his special national address yesterday, promised that the covid-19 will be contained within the Chengs quarantine centre, and will also be eliminated there.

“Fellow citizens, the announcement of this 3rd positive case of Covid-19 does not change our assessment that the risk of community transmission is still low.

“Our focus continues to be on containment of the virus within the Chengs quarantine station and eliminate it from there.

“If we need to shift some students to other locations, it will be done such that there will be no risk of community transmission during the process, and that the new locations will also be under very tight security and management control,” said Sogavare.

He said the results of the forthcoming fourth round of testing under the testing protocol will take place between days 19 and 21 after arrival in the country which will be between Sunday, October 18 and Tuesday, Oct 20.

Sogavare said this round-four test will give a better indication on the status and the likely projection of the covid-19 infection in the country.

Chinese nationals alleged of breaching quarantine protocols yet to be charged

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

POLICE has confirmed that the two Chinese nationals alleged of having breached quarantine protocols are yet to be charged.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso said the investigation has been completed and the file has been sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for viewing.

“That process has been completed and the file has been sent back to the investigators with recommendations that there are issues needed to be patched up before deciding on the charge against the two,” Vaevaso said.

He said that currently the file is with the investigators and once those issues raised by the DPP’s office are sorted, then the file will be sent back to them for advice on what charges will be laid.

This is the investigation into the incident involving two Chinese nationals at the Pacific Casino Hotel covid-19 quarantine centre on September 3, 2020.

It was reported to police that a vehicle entered the Pacific Casino Hotel premises and a parcel was passed to another person in the vehicle by the Chinese national under quarantine at the Hotel through the ventilation window of a room on the southern side of the premises.

PM GIVES 2-DAY DEADLINE FOR STUDENTS OUTSIDE HOTELS

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare. Photo supplied.

BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands students in the Philippines have been asked to move into government-arranged hotels or face being left behind.

Majority of students have moved into hotels arranged by government as accommodation centres in its plan to repatriate the students. However, a number of students have not yet made the move into these hotels.

Yesterday, in his special national address, prime minister Manasseh Sogavare gave these students a two-day ultimatum to either move into the hotels or face being left alone to find their way back home at their own cost.

“To our students in the Philippines who have not yet shifted to the government arranged hotel from yesterday, you have the next two days (Friday and Saturday) 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 program 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.

POLICE ONTO SOCIAL MEDIA POST OF ISOLATION BREACH

Written by
Jennifer Kusapa
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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Police are investigating a viral social media post claiming that the first covid-19 patient had breached protocols and had gone out of site to chew betel nut, coming into contact with public.
Police say those behind the post will face the law.

Deputy Police Commissioner Ian Vaevaso confirmed yesterday during a press conference that police will investigate the poster for spreading rumour that the first covid-19 patient at the Isolation ward had breached isolation protocols and went to chew betel nut along the betel nut stalls outside of the morgue.

He said the Ministry of the Health and Medical Services had made their own internal investigation and found that information to be untrue.

Therefore, police will pursue the false information that was posted in the social media, Vaevaso said.

Last week there were reports that alleged the first covid-19 patient at the Isolation ward had breached isolation protocols and went to chew betel nut along the betel nut stalls outside of the morgue.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Monday this week revealed that NHEOC had conducted an investigation into those claims and also found them to be false.

“On this note, MHMS kindly requests members of the public not to spread false rumors or speculations as this might cause unnecessary panic, fear and anxiety. It is important for the public to note that spreading of false rumors is an offence under the Emergency Powers (COVID-19) (No.3) Regulations 2020,” Sogavare said

Sogavare said all communications between patients in isolation and doctors and nurses are done via mobile phones to minimise associated risks of coming into contact with the patients.

He reiterates that necessary infection prevention and control procedures have been strengthened. Families and relatives wishing to drop off food to the patients at isolation are advised to drop food in disposable containers at the NRH Emergency Operation Centre.

JUVENILES, MOST OF 23 ARRESTEES: Police

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BY JENNIFER KUSAPA

Juveniles make up the most of a recent mass arrest by police in the Western province.

Deputy Commissioner Ian Vaevaso says it is sad to see juveniles involved in the incident that occurred at Patmos Island, Roviana lagoon at the Western Province on October 11, 2020.

He said that a total of 23 suspects were arrested on October 14 for allegations that they were involved in burning and destroying properties belonging to a CFC leader.

Vavevaso said those arrested were members of the CFC religious group and reports that police gathered said that they were not happy with their leader and as a result those young people took law into their own hands.

Vaevaso said the leader of the CFC group and his family are now the victims of arson, threatening violence and damages of the victim’s properties, and are moved to another village for their safety.

“When police arrived at the scene of the incident the suspects did not resist arrest,” Vaevaso said.

However, Vaevaso said the situation at Patmos Island is under control as police are now present at the scene doing their investigations.

He further calls on the people at Patmos to support police with their investigation.

AUKI POLICE ARREST 3 AFTER MOTION RESULT

Written by
Samie Waikori
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BY SAMIE WAIKORI
AUKI

AUKI Police have arrested three men related to Tuesday’s motion of no confidence on Malaita’s Premier.

The three, police say, were involved in unlawful disturbances after the defeated Motion was announced.

Provincial Police Commander Malaita, Chief Suprintendant Stanley Riolo said the men are supporters of the non-executives.
Riolo said they have been charged with unlawful disturbance in public.

Two were released the next day, while the third was remanded further due to previous cases.

Riolo said he’s a wanted man by police for involvement in arson cases in Fataleka.

He also confirms that the incident of threat on the two MOI MPAs has been reported to police and that they are investigating it.

Riolo thanks Auki public for the overall peaceful behaviour during the motion vote.

“Auki and Malaita province are our home and we have the responsibility to care and look after it.

“I appealed for similar good behavior all throughout and to maintain law and order in our province to live in peaceful and harmony with each other,” he said.

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