BY MAVIS N PODOKOLO
ALL shipping services to provinces are suspended temporarily, according to Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare.
“Shipping services to provinces are temporarily suspended until further notice,” Sogavare said.
He stressed that all ships from provinces to Honiara can still return.
“However, people from provinces are discouraged to travel to Honiara at this point,”Sogavare said.
Sogavare also stressed that all domestic flights to provinces be temporarily suspended until further notice.
“I ask for the understanding of all passengers from the provinces affected by these measures.
“However, as we do not know yet the extent of community transmission in Honiara, we cannot risk sending COVID-19 to provinces annoyingly,” he said.
Sogavare said overseas Cargo vessels, as well as fuel and gas tankers will continue to operate, as Solomon Islands depend on these vessels for survival.
“They do not pose high COVID-19 risk so they will continue to operate during the lock down period if necessary,” he said.
Sogavare said international flights are also on suspension, only humanitarian cargo flights to continue.
“All incoming passengers, all services from international flights will be suspended until further notice”.
“It is also safe for all international passengers to not enter the country at a time when all our resources are directed to managing the unfolding COVID-18 situation in the country,” he said.
Sogavare stressed that humanitarian cargo services will continue, other cargo services will be considered on a case by case basis.
