Solomon Islands PM announces six more students test positive for COVID-19 in Philippines

 Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has announced that six more COVID-19 tests of our students in the Philippines have returned positive. 

The six are from the 144 students who were scheduled for the second repatriation flight listed for 29 September that have undergone their first of three tests on Sunday.   

Prime Minister Sogavare said the results were received by the oversight committee on Tuesday this week. 

“This brings to 12, the total number of our students that had tested positive for Covid-19. As with the first group of students, none of the six students had shown signs of illness,” he said. 

The Prime Minister said the Government have also been able to secure two hotels - at very reasonable rates to accommodate all our students that had tested negative while waiting for their repatriation flights on 27th and 29th September 2020.   

“From tomorrow(Thursday), we hope to shift all our students who tested negative to the two hotels that have been identified. The transfers will be guided by risk assessment from our health team and the Philippine Red Cross,” he said. 

Prime Minister Sogavare said each hotel will cater for the number of students for each flight.   

“The hotels will only cater for the students until their departure. The government is working with local partners on the financing of the hire of the two hotels,” he said. 

Prime Minister Sogavare encourages all good citizens not to allow divisive and sensational stories to stand in the way of respecting each other and doing the right thing. 

“Let us come together and pray for, and support our students, their parents, and families, and also support each other. My prayers and those from my government are with all our students and their parents,” he said. 

Meanwhile, a total of 104 passengers who arrived Tuesday night from Brisbane have now settled down in their designated Quarantine Stations to commence 14-days of quarantine. All passengers came with at least 2 negative consecutive COVID-19 test results. 

A statement from the National Disaster Council (NDC) said that of the total passengers, eight passengers are returning nationals, and the majority (96) are foreign diplomatic officials under exemption based on requests from their Governments and Organisations. 

“A total of 64 Australian diplomats and their families are accommodated in their Diplomatic approved Quarantine Stations, under their management with monitoring by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS). 

“Other diplomatic officials join the returnees accommodated in the government-managed stations at Guadalcanal Beach Resort, Airport Motel, Heritage Park Hotel, and Honiara Hotel,” the statement said. 

As per Camp Management and Health Standard Operating Procedure, quarantine stations that are vacated will undergo decontamination, cleaned, and resourced with hygiene kits in preparation for up-coming repatriation flights. 

The MHMS continues to lead the health imperatives of the Government’s multi-sectoral approach to stem COVID-19 importation. All relevant government agencies and stakeholders are providing the required support through the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC) and Provincial Disaster Operations Committees (P-DOC). 

N-DOC Camp Management Sector Committee continues to manage all the government-approved Quarantine Stations in Honiara and Western Province.

SOURCE: SOLOMON STAR/PACNEWS/ PNG Today

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