HCC ACTS ON VIRUS
By ESTHER NURIA
HONIARA City Council (HCC) schools will take an early holiday break starting Monday as fears of the coronavirus set in.
The decision comes as the first sample of one of the three suspected cases the Ministry of Health sent to Australia last week was proven negative.
In a public notice issued yesterday, the council said the Ministry of Education will give out relevant instructions later on its decision to take an early school break.
The council has also made a decision to indefinitely close down the Kukum Market as well as demolish all illegal market stalls in Honiara.
It also encourages those who are not working to return to their villages in the provinces while at the same time discourages those intending of travelling to Honiara not to do so until the coronavirus pandemic is over.
The council’s decision is the first major move by an authority to prevent the spread of the disease should an outbreak occurs here.
Three suspected cases have so far been recorded.
The first case, whose result was returned yesterday from Australia, was proven to be negative.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Pauline McNeil said they are now waiting for the results of the two other samples.
“The general public will be informed when the result of these two samples are available,” she said.
The samples are being tested at the Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) in Melbourne.
McNeil acknowledges the work of the members of the NDOC-Health Committee, National Referral Hospital, our Collaborating partners World Health Organization (WHO) and Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory (VIDRL) and the Prime Minister’s Office.
“While this is a very pleasing result, we would again call on the public to remain vigilant and practice good hygiene such as cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, wash your hands with clean water and soap at all times or use hand sanitizer, eat more fruits and vegetables, avoid crowded gatherings, maintain social distance at least one meter apart and avoid non-essential travelling to coronavirus affected countries.
“I would like to appeal to the general public to avoid rumours, misinformation, and speculation but get the accurate and facts information from MHMS.
“The MHMS will continue to work together with other government ministries, partners and stakeholders to ensure our country is protected from Coronavirus.”
