SOLOMON Islands nationals in Canada are safe to-date with no reported cases of Coronavirus affecting them.
That’s according to Solomon Islands Honorary Consul General to Canada Ashwant Dwivedi.
“We are in difficult times,” Dwivedi told the Solomon Star last night.
“I urge Solomon Islanders to keep Canada and Canadians in their prayers,” he added.
“After all we are all one family.”
Dwivedi, however, confirmed that based on government information, British Columbia Province alone has recorded three new coronavirus deaths, as the total number of cases in the province topped 100 on Monday.
Canada has a total of 424 cases of COVID-19 as of last night.
The majority of cases are in the province of Ontario followed by British Columbia.
Solomon Islanders are also employed under the seasonal program in the province of BC and Saskatchewan.
Both these provinces have CORVID-19 cases.
Dwivedi said that Solomon Islands nationals are been urged to seek immediate medical advice should they have any symptom that relates to COVID-19.
“I do understand that many family members of those who are in Canada must be concerned about the health and safety of their loved ones presently in Canada.
“Let me assure them that their relatives in Canada are not alone and as a SI representative I stand on guard to assist them when the call for assistance arises. They are my responsibility,” Dwivedi said.
Canada yesterday announced that it is closing its borders for incoming visitors apart from Canadian citizens and permanent residents returning home to Canada.
Dwivedi also confirmed that under the current rules, Solomon Islands nationals until further notice will not be able to travel to Canada unless they are diplomats.
Dwivedi further said that the office of the Solomon Islands Consulate General in Canada is working closely with respective authorities to ensure that should any case relating to Solomon Islands nationals be reported, the information is shared allowing him to share the information with SI officials in Honiara.
“We are in regular contact with Canadian health authorities and protocol office with relation to developing a case of Coronavirus affecting Canada and Canadians.
“Canadian authorities are providing regular briefings and has established rules of engagement that we are following to monitor the situation involving our respective citizens in Canada,” Dwivedi said.
” Two weeks ago during one of my briefings with workers I urged them to follow Health Canada guidelines and stay healthy by following protocol that will help them reduce the risk of being infected with the virus,” Dwivedi said.
He said that one of the important messages to SI nationals was that they must reduce or not visit shopping malls and other public places unless there is a need for such a visit and it cannot be “avoided”.
“There are recommended health guidelines that have been established by the Canadian centre for Disease Control and I have asked our nationals in Canada to closely follow and implement that to their daily life,” Dwivedi said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is urging Canadians abroad to come home while they still can as Canada is shutting the border to non-Canadian citizens with limited exceptions to limit the spread of COVID-19.
In a media conference in Canada’s Capital city Ottawa, Trudeau has announced that permanent Canadian residents, the immediate family members of Canadian citizens, diplomats, aircrews and U.S. citizens are still being allowed into Canada at this time.
