One of four new covid-19 cases had refused to wear mask in plane
BY MAVIS NISHIMURA PODOKOLO
SELFISH attitude of one returning national repatriated on Sunday night’s flight has put the country at greater risk to the virus.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare on Tuesday 27th October, said this while announcing the country’s four new covid-19 cases, all from this flight.
One of the four new cases had reportedly refused to wear a face mask in the plane, and was also reported to have moved about during flight.
This selfish attitude and action has possibly exposed a greater number of other passengers to the risk of contracting the virus, something which the ongoing contact tracing will confirm soon.
“It has also been reported to the government that one of the soccer players who is positive refused to wear a mask during the flight from Auckland to Honiara, despite being asked to do so repeatedly.
“We know who that individual is, and both he and the nation, need to know that his selfish actions in the plane had put many more passengers that came in on the flight last night at greater risk of exposure to the virus, and he had put our country in danger. We will of course deal with this matter after the completion of the mandatory quarantine period.”
He stressed it is the country’s standard obligation that all passengers must complete their pre-departure tests and truthfully fill a risk assessment form that is assessed by our health team before passengers are allowed to board.
“Fellow citizens, I had always highlighted to you, any risk behaviours by our returning citizens, that had been reported to us that puts other people and our country at risk. This flight on Sunday 25th October is no different,” said Sogavare.
He adds, all the soccer players tested negative three times. They each sent their completed forms. However, our contact tracing had already established that not all the questions were answered honestly.
