14 March 2022
The Solomon Islands has recorded 465 new cases of COVID-19 over a 72-hour reporting period.
The cumulative total number of positive COVID-19 cases in the country now stands at 9,124.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, Pauline McNeil, gave the update during the oversight committee’s talk back show on the national broadcaster, SIBC, over the weekend.
Of the 465 new cases recorded, 85 are in Honiara, 18 in Guadalcanal, 16 in Malaita, 39 in Central, 117 in West, 43 in Choiseul, 109 in Makira, 33 in Rennell Bellona, and 5 in Isabel. Temotu is the only province in the country that remains COVID-19 free.
In terms of hospitalization at the national referral hospital (NRH) in Honiara, there are now only 5 COVID-19 related admissions. The central field hospital (CFH) is still empty, with no new admissions over the past 72 hours.
The Permanent Secretary for Health says in terms of response, a lot more resources are now being shifted to the provinces, where outbreaks have now been recorded in almost all of the provinces.
The Special Secretary to the Prime Minister (SPM), Dr. Jimmie Rodgers, clarified that positive COVID-19 cases recorded in Honiara are in fact declining, and most of the new cases recorded are from people that came in from the provinces by boat after restrictions were eased.
In separate news, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has finally made it again to Malaita Outer Islands (MOI) following its first deployment in January this year that detected COVID-19 cases from the community.
Though community transmission in Honiara, followed by Malaita Province, had delayed the 2nd deployment, health through much discussions and mobilization of limited personals has finally made it there, fortnight ago, a statement issued by Ministry of Health and Medical Services said.
The 12 health member team in MOI comprised of medical doctors and nurses, pharmacist, risk communication, data, logistics and infrastructure officers.
Medical and COVID-19 supplies deployed with the team consist of COVID-19 supplies and COVID-19 and routine vaccines, rapid test kits, basic drugs and medications, Infection, Prevention and Control and Personal Protective Equipment supplies.
Since arrival, the team has been providing general outpatient services, administration of COVID-19 and other vaccines as per the routine Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI).
Further risk communication activities including community awareness and engagements also carried out for communities in MOI.
Reviewing of clinic registers and collection of Influenza like Illness data since November and December 2021 also conducted.
Assessment of health infrastructure, Infection, Prevention and Control needs and gaps to address to strengthen COVID-19 preparedness in MOI also carried out including for communication and logistics.
The team is currently in Pelau and scheduled to travel to Luaniua in the next few days and return back to Honiara on day 10 of deployment.
The Ministry of Health following the downward trend of cases in the capital in recent days and weeks has commenced deployment of health workers at the National Ministry and National Referral hospital to the provinces to support with COVID-19 response mainly management of severe and critical COVID-19 patients including outpatient services.
Sources – Solomon Times Online and Solomon Star news.
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
