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4 Days lockdown, as infection rises

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Honiara is the beating heart of the country's economy.

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has declared a further four days lockdown for the Honiara City Emergency zone as covid infections soar in the capital.

The lockdown becomes effective from 6:00pm Tuesday 25 to 6:00pm Saturday 29 January 2022 for a period of 4 days to reduce people movement and to allow health operations to continue in Honiara communities.

Sogavare said the lockdown is critical in the fight to reduce and contain community transmission within the city.

The government through the Oversight Committee will try to provide some food support to communities during the lock down period to ensure people remain in their homes.

The lockdown period will be reviewed before the expiry of the 4 days to decide if it should be extended further. This will allow the Cabinet time to consider the implications of the current outbreak and further consider longer-term measures that will be recommended by the Oversight Committee.

“I ask all residents living in the Honiara Emergency Zone to please respect the lockdown period and stay home during this time so that we can reduce the transmission of the virus and contain and control the current epidemic of COVID-19 in the country,” Sogavare said in his Special National Address today.

Honiara City is now the epicenter of covid-19, although the original outbreak of COVID-19 was traced back from Ontong Java in the Malaita Outer Islands.

Sogavare warned that the Honiara outbreak means COVID-19 is now exported to provinces from Honiara through ships that sail from Honiara to provinces.

The lockdown now prohibits people, vessels including Outboard motors and aircrafts from traveling to and from Honiara to the provinces.

Special exemptions will be given to high priority cargo flights and personnel entering from overseas to assist the Government’s response to the situation.

The 4-day lockdown will include the two localized lockdowns at the Lord Howe Settlement and Burns Creek Community.

Gizo residents urged to wear mask

Written by
Ben Bilua
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BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

RESIDENTS at Western Provincial capital Gizo have been urged to wear mask when going out to public places

Provincial Secretary of Western province, Jeffrey Wickham made the call over the weekend following the surge of COVID-19 cases in Honiara.

He said wearing of mask is compulsory and residents must find one to protect themselves while going out on public places.

“There is no medicine that can cure this virus so the only way we can do is to prevent ourselves from getting the virus.

“Simple measures such as wearing of mask, hand washing, social distancing and avoid social gathering are the least we can do to protect ourselves,” Wickham said.

He said shop owners must wear mask and also provide hand sanitizers for the public to use after shopping.

Wickham adds that market vendors must also wear masks.

“Those who fail to adhere to this requirement will not be allowed to sell goods at the market.

“It is equally important that vendors must maintain social distancing while selling their products at the market,” he said.

Wickham said mask will be running out from shops as such those who are good in sawing must produce masks for sale at an affordable price.

“We want each resident to have a mask,” he said.

NRH in search for lab technicians

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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The National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO 

THE Ministry of Health and Medical Services says they will be looking at recruiting laboratory technicians to assist boost their manpower requirements.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary Pauline McNeil disclosed this yesterday in a radio talk-back show.

“The testing capabilities at the Molecular laboratory, National Referral Hospital, has been stretched in terms of capacity of our human resources and so we are trying to go out to the public to identify who are our laboratory technicians out there who could come forward to assist us,” McNeil said.

She also stated that they are looking at utilising other nurses who are unemployed to fill in the gaps at NRH.

“We are trying to coordinate as much as possible in trying to map out who is there to fill in the gaps,” McNeil said.

She stressed that has become one of their main challenges at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.

“We are also reaching out to our partners who will support us in terms of capabilities, PPEs and IPC items and other key critical equipment that we need during this crisis,” McNeil said.

Malaita plans to deal with outbreak in the province.

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki town.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

MALAITA Provincial Disaster Operation Centre (PDOC) through its Covid-19 Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) at Kilu’ufi hospital has met on Friday to prepare for covid-19 transmission in the country.

Chairman of EOC, Director of Malaita provincial health, Dr. Rex Maukera said the meeting was important as they are looking at ways to deal with the current situation should there be an outbreak in the province. 

He said they discussed a lot of areas during the meeting including;

  • Update on the current status of the country, especially PM’s speeches and information that needs to be disseminated to the public.
  • Update on the status of Kilu’ufi hospital and measures need to be taken now as face with the virus
  • Preparation of quarantine and isolation for the province
  • Looking at reserving Kilu’ufi hospital for normal services (to avoid virus transmission to staffs and patients)
  • Possible measures by way of restricting movement of people

Maukera said these are some of the areas they looked at and they will continue to sit down and plan as this situation also continues to gain momentum.

He said during the meeting they also discussed information to issue to the public, especially on the movement of people after the lifting of the lockdown in Honiara.

Maukera said the Kilu’ufi Risk Communication team had and will provide awareness to people on the current situation, especially measures or what to do, and to give people confidence amidst the transmission.

 “We are now experiencing transmission and if anybody is experiencing flu, cough, and other signs of the virus to report to them for investigation,” he added.

Maukera said the PDOC through EOC is liaising with SOEs, NGOs in Auki, and MPG to prepare for the current state of emergency.

He said the partnership of these stakeholders is important to ensure resources are shared towards planning to deal with the virus in the province.  

SINU: ‘no jab, no job’ & ‘no jab, no school’

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Admin
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Students at SINU

SOLOMON Islands National University (SINU) says staff and students who are not vaccinated will not be allowed to enter its campuses when classes resume this year.

SINU executive management reached the decision in its meeting yesterday in the wake of the COVID-19 community transmission outbreak in Honiara.

“Staff and students who have yet to get their vaccination must adhere to the Prime Minister’s call to visit the vaccination sites and get vaccinated this week,” SINU said in a statement issued yesterday.

“No students will be allowed to enter any SINU campuses this week,” the statement added.

“A policy of ‘no jab, no job’ and ‘no jab, no school’ will be executed once SINU opens for normal business.

“Staff who are vaccinated are required to attend work this week but must comply with COVID-19 safety protocols.

“A SINU covid-19 special committee will be reactivated with its first meeting tomorrow.”

The statement said the university will remain close throughout this week.

This means enrolment will be delayed for a week.

SINU said it is taking these measures to help fight the COVID-19 community transmission, first detected in the Malaita Outer Islands and later in Honiara early this week.

Authorities urged to track down passengers

Written by
Ben Bilua
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Passengers on board one the ships that was detained outside Taro Island.

BY BEN BILUA
Gizo

COMMUNITIES in South Choiseul, are calling on Taro police and the Health and Medical Authority to track down passengers who returned to their homes after boarding ships that were detained at Taro.

In an interview with Island Sun Gizo, community member, Chris Podokolo said people are concerned that few passengers who boarded one of the ships to Taro returned home after the ships were detained.

“So, what happened was, some people from our community boarded the ship when the ship passed through heading to Taro.

“When the ship was detained, these people arranged a boat and returned home in the evening.

“It is worrying that these people already boarded the vessel and are now mingling with other community members since they came back,” he said.

Podokolo said few leaders have tried their best to explain to the people about the risk associated with the people’s movement but the response was not helpful.

He said the situation is worrying and a quick response from responsible authorities is important.

“We want the police and health authorities to visit us immediately so that we can discuss possible actions that needs to be made.

“At the moment life is the village is normal, only a few people who know the seriousness of COVID-19 adhered to public and health procedures,” Podokolo said.

Gen X-PERT machine at Kilu’ufi not ready

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Kilu'ufi hospital

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Gen X-PERT machine at the Kilu’ufi hospital intended for testing corona virus in the province is not yet ready for use.

Chairman of the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) for covid-19 at Kilu’ufi hospital, Director Dr Rex Maukera informed the local media about this on Thursday.

He said at the moment the machine is not yet ready and samples of suspected corona virus tests taken have to be sent to Honiara for verification.

Maukera said “we have a Gen X-PERT machine at Kilu’ufi hospital, but it will not be used yet.”

He said reason for that was the lab that holds the machine doesn’t meet the required standard and they are now working on it.

Maukera said as long as they complete the work, they will kick off testing for corona virus at Kilu’ufi hospital.

The machine was installed last year as part of ministry of health (MHMS) through the provincial health’s preparation for covid-19 in the province.

Vaccination surge in Auki

Written by
Samie Waikori
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Auki provincial town of Malaita.

BY SAMIE WAIKORI

AUKI

THE Whole of last week has seen a surge in the number of people who had taken their jab at the Central Field Vaccination Centre in Auki.

From Monday to Friday, a total of 250 people received their jabs.

Chairman of the Emergency Operation Centre for Covid-19, Malaita and Director of Malaita provincial health, Dr Rex Maukera confirmed to Island Sun the increasing number of people receiving their jabs.

“Since Monday, the Central Vaccination Field in Auki continues to experience a surge in people going to get their vaccine,” he said.

Maukera said with this the provincial health team is looking at opening a new vaccination site for Auki to support the existing centre.

“We are now working on the site and will open as soon as this week. We have decided to have two sites in Auki so that people can easily access vaccination,” he said.

Dr Maukera said they have resources like vaccines and equipment available, and they will share amongst the centre to speed up vaccination.

According to the EOC chairman, the virus is in the country and everyone is encouraged to take up their vaccine to protect them, their families and everyone from the virus.

He said they are also liaising with the vaccination centres in substations across the province to help people get their vaccines.

Maukera said apart from Auki, vaccination is also going-on at the Atoifi hospital and a vaccination team is on the ground in East Fataleka.

Additional vaccination sites to be set up

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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vaccination sites in Honiara.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

THE health team is working to set up additional vaccination sites in Honiara to cater to the unvaccinated population in Honiara.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services office said in terms of the vaccination program it will resume tomorrow.

“This is to inform you all that the COVID-19 vaccination roll out in Honiara will resume on Monday 24th of January as our teams are working on setting up additional sites. We will inform you of these sites soon,” the Ministry health office said.

It further stressed that those who tested positive with COVID-19, they will be informed with relevant information pertaining to COVID-19 vaccinations.

“Anyone feeling sick, consult our medical team at your nearest clinic for treatment first before getting your vaccination dose. Those with severe flu-like illness or COVID-19 symptoms of coughing, runny nose, fever, shortness of breath stay where you are and call our National Health Emergency Operations Center on phone 115 or 25256”.

It also spelled out that those with mild flu-like symptoms that does not really bother you or affect your normal daily routine must self-isolate at home so they do not pass it on to others in their family.

Fiji students raise concern over partial allowances.

Written by
Mavis Podokolo
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USP main campus in Laucala, Fiji.

BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO

SOLOMON Islands students at the University of the South Pacific, Laucala Campus in Fiji have raised concern over the partial payment of their January allowances.

Concerned students who wished anonymity told the Island Sun paper that this partial payment is causing problems for most of the students.

“We only received $300 Fijian earlier this month (January), this is not enough to pay for rents\ and food as most of us are renting homes outside of the campuses.

 “And because we don’t want to be chased away by our landlords and landladies, most of us are forced to borrow money elsewhere to support ourselves, “the concerned students said.

They also said the Permanent Secretary of MERHD Franco Rode on a talk-back show assured them that they would receive their full allowances.

“Nevertheless, while waiting in anticipation, we were startled when we realized there was another partial payment of $400 Fijian transferred to our account,” the students said.

They further stressed that upon receiving this partial payment of $400 Fijian, an email was sent to them (students) by the Education Attaché’ on Thursday 20th January which stated “I must strongly emphasize that there won’t be any allowance soon till late February. I strongly advise students to use the small funds wisely.”

“Indeed, it is frustrating for some of us, especially when trying to clear out our arrears, plus the given situation in Fiji. If this partial payment is premediated plus the plan from the MEHRD for this holiday, it is right and very important to notify students in advance so that we can adjust ourselves in some areas we need,” the frustrated students said.

They requested the Solomon Islands Education Attaché and the Solomon Islands Students Association (SISA) to thoroughly contemplate reality on the ground before communicating information to students.

“With that, we kindly call on the responsible authorities to please stop giving us false hope because we students will cling to promises. We are living in a foreign land without parents and this is not our land to plant crops to sustain our living in trying times like this”.  

“We are living in a foreign land without parents and this is not our land to plant crops to sustain our living in trying times like this, thus when students face financial constraints, we will have no money and will go hungry.

“And if this continues to happen the whole of this semester, it will affect our studies,” the students said.

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