COVID-19 Update: 362 Positive Cases Recorded
The country has recorded an additional 362 positive cases over the past 48 hours.
The update was made by the Health Minister, Dr. Culwick Togamana, during his COVID-19 situational report on the national broadcaster, SIBC.
The cumulative total cases of COVID-19 for the country now stands at 8,491.
Of the 362 positive cases 27 were detected in Honiara, 22 in Bellona, 22 in Malaita, 17 in Makira, 5 in Choiseul, 10 in Guadalcanal, 162 in Isabel, and 97 in Central.
The national referral hospital (NRH) in Honiara has not recorded any new COVID-19 admissions or deaths during this reporting period.
There are now only 11 COVID-19 patients still admitted at the NRH. 1 has been discharged and 1 transferred to a separate ward during this reporting period.
COVID-19 related deaths remain at 118, although investigations are being conducted for deaths that occurred in communities over the past 6 weeks, particularly during the peak of the outbreak.
Source. Solomon Times Online
445,384 Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines Administered to Date
There has been a notable increase in vaccination numbers after the COVID-19 community outbreak was first detected in Honiara and in the provinces.
The update was made by the Health Minister Dr. Culwick Togamana during his COVID-19 situation update on the national broadcaster, SIBC.
He says a total of 445,384 doses of AstraZeneca and Sinopharm vaccines have been administered to date.
The Health Minister says 39.2% of those above 18 years of age are now fully vaccinated. 65.1% of the eligible population in the country has also received one dose of the vaccine.
“It is a great achievement by our team who are making all efforts to reach all our communities. I would also like to sincerely acknowledge all community leaders, elders, men, women, girls, and boys for the ongoing support rendered to our health teams and for coming forward,” Dr Culwick said.
He says that the Pfizer vaccine is now being administered in Honiara for those between 12 and 18 years of age and pregnant women. He says the vaccine will soon be expanded to other provinces.
Dr. Culwick says 16,192 doses of the Pfizer vaccine has been administered to date. This includes 9,805 as first dose, and 2,965 as second dose. 3,422 have also been administered as booster doses for those 18 years and above.
Source – Solomon Times Online.
West wants ‘mask wearing’ mandatory
WESTERN Provincial Government (WPG) is planning on to request the Government to gazette an order to ensure wearing of masks becomes mandatory in the province.
This was revealed by the Western Provincial Disaster Committee (PDC) Chairman Jeffrey Wickham.
This proposal was agreed on after a meeting was held between the PDC and Provincial Health Emergency Operations Committee (PHEOC) at the MSG building on Monday in Gizo.
Mr. Wickham speaking to the paper said they will request the Oversight Committee to grant and gazette another order purposely for wearing of facing masks.
“We want to see wearing of face masks to become a compulsory and must be worn in every public and private area.
“Anyone that did not comply with the order, will be arrested and charged for breaching the rule.
“It is very important that we need to have more emphasis on wearing of face masks in our communities,” he said.
He said a lot of communities are neglecting the some of the rules that are given, make it worse many did not care about wearing of facemasks.
Mr. Wickham added with the spread of the virus on the increase and by looking at the capacity of the health authority inside the province it cannot cover the whole communities in Western Province.
He said it’s going to be a nightmare in trying to contain the virus from spreading further into the communities.
“So the only option to contain it is to totally ban or get an order to ban inter-traveling for a certain period of time,” Wickham added.
He further added that during his recent trip in Marovo and other communities in Western Province, there are people not wearing masks. “This shows how people did not take the virus seriously although the virus is a threat that can take lives especially those at the vulnerable age.”
Source – Solomon Star news.
SLOW DOWN LIKELY ATTRIBUTED TO HEALTH SAFETY MEASURES
We (the Government) also have in place clearance mechanism in place for travelers to and from our provinces. Please ensure that you strictly abide to these the measures in place as it is critical to mitigate further the spread of the virus amongst ourselves. I have received reports of people arriving in Honiara and without waiting for their test results, have started boarding taxis to travel home. Our workers had to chase them to wait for their test results. This is unacceptable and must stop.
If there is anything that is needed from all of us at this time, it is our solidarity, unity and cooperation. Abiding to all COVID-19 public safe measures, health instructions and advises is how we can achieve this. Let’s do the right thing for the protection of our country.
On this note may I also thank many of you who have continuously remained vigilant and stead-fast in upholding the COVID-19 health key messages. Thank you indeed for your cooperation. You may not realize, but your actions are contributing significantly to current efforts to preserve the health and lives of our people.
Source - GCU
COVID SLOW-DOWN LEAVES NO ROOM FOR NEGLIGENCE
Health and Medical Services Minister, Dr, Culwick Togamana has warned people not to neglect public safety measures regardless of the slowdown in covid-19 cases in Honiara and some parts of the country.
Dr Togamana observed a worrying tendency, especially, in Honiara where people obviously ignored putting on face masks and observing social distancing, in common places such as food markets and public transports.
He said it is obvious that people are no longer wearing masks in town and there is hardly any form of social distancing within public transports and even along the streets and offices.
He added that people are not constantly washing their hands with hand sanitizer when moving in and out of shops and markets.
“I strongly call on all of us to be responsible for ourselves and those around us by upholding these COVID-19 safe measures. The virus is still transmitting amongst us and with the curfew hours lifted and travels in and out of Honiara resuming, the risk to our health and lives still remains. Let’s not to let our guards down. Not yet,” the Minister said.
Minister Togamana further warned that “though the Delta variant is said to be deadliest than other variants, should Omicron or new variants find their way into the country or develop amongst us, many of us will still get sick, get hospitalized and even die. Even those who have recovered from Delta, their lives and health will still be at risk again”.
He urged those who are yet to get vaccinated to do so and not to be fooled by rumours, and people who are still discrediting and rubbishing COVID-19 vaccines as the mark of the beast.
Some members of the community even went as far as claiming that the vaccines are being used to generate more funding from donors and partners.
“This is not true. To date there has not been a single person in Solomon Islands that has died from COVID-19 vaccination. Yet in just two months, over 100 of our people, our very own family members, friends and relatives have died after contracting the virus and most of them were unvaccinated,” Togamana warned.
“The virus is transmitting in our rural communities and the worst for our people out there is yet to come. So please get your vaccination dose and get it now,” the Minister added.
Source – GCU
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
