OMICRON variant is likely being detected at the quarantine centres in Honiara from passengers arriving from overseas in the past weeks.
This was revealed by the Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick last night during his national situational Covid-19 update.
He said 34 new Covid-19 cases were detected in the quarantine centres.
These included, 25 are from students coming from Fiji and 9 from those traveling in from Brisbane Australia.
“All these cases coming from overseas are likely Omicron which are being kept in managed isolation facilities and no one is admitted at the hospital.
“These cases will be kept in isolation until they are tested negative.”
In light of the detection, he said quarantine period for those close contacts have been extended to see if they are infected.
The minister said the ministry wants to ensure Omicron does not slip out to the community.
Therefore, he said the ministry will continue to do all it can to stop any transmission by ensuring those arriving from overseas will have to undergo quarantine.
The minister also expressed concern over the way those in the quarantine are moving around and mixing with each other.
He therefore, urges all those in the quarantine centres to follow health protocols.
At the moment only Delta variant is currently circulating in the community.
Meanwhile, the accumulative total COVID-19 cases in the country as of yesterday stands at 11, 174 with 373 new cases being recorded in the past 72 hours.
There were no deaths being recorded for this period. Death toll remains at 133, the minister said.
He also announced last night he had officially received 100, 800 Johnson&Johnson doses yesterday from New Zealand Government through COVAX facility.
The doses will be sent to the provinces soon for its rollout.
So far 174,000 eligible people have completed their two doses vaccination, the minister said.