THE delay for Solomon Islands to know the type of COVID-19 variant currently transmitting in our country is due to technical issues.
The Minister of Health and Medical Services Dr Culwick Togamana yesterday said the technical issues are experienced by the Australian laboratory that samples were sent to.
“…they are redoing the test result…should be ready this Friday (today Friday 28th January 2022).
“We will be sending more samples to Australia this Friday,” Dr Togamana stated in his daily update on the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Since the declaration of COVID-19 transmission in Ontong Java and Honiara last week, Solomon Islands is still to know the type of COVID-19 variant transmitting in Honiara and Malaita Outer Islands.
Meanwhile, the Minister also took the opportunity to response to ongoing criticisms over government’s decision for asymptomatic COVID-19 patients to self-isolate in their homes.
According to Dr Togamana, the country’s current health system and infrastructure cannot cater for the rapid surge in COVID-19 positive cases therefore, the hospitals can only focus on looking after COVID-19 symptomatic patients.
“…our health system and current COVID-19 related infrastructures will not cater for rapid surge in COVID-19 positives. This is the situation we have been anticipating and therefore, have been calling for collective efforts against COVID-19.
“This means we all need to work together to fight this virus and finding ways to be able to self-isolate those asymptomatic cases at our homes is how we can contribute towards this fight against COVID-19.
“A whole of society’s response is needed at this time,” Dr Togamana said.
Therefore, he reiterated that only members of the public with severe COVID-19 like symptoms will be tested and if positive will be isolated at the Central Field Hospital for proper management by medical staff to prevent loss of lives.
To those, self-isolating at home, the Minister said what families can do for COVID-19 patients self-isolating at home are the following;
- Allocate a space in the home for the self-isolating person (a space that only the self-isolating person should occupy).
- No other member of the family should go into that space.
- Food and water pass safely without contact.
- Kitchen utensils to be properly washed with washing detergent.
- Household to practice COVID-19 safety measures.
He said if the person in self-isolation is severely sick with COVID-19 symptoms urgently call the National Health Emergency Operations Centre on phone 115 or 25256.
“Otherwise, the symptoms should subside in a week’s time,” the Minister said.
The COVID-19 safety measures are;
- Limit movements within your community and beyond
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
- Maintain social distancing between 2m to 3metres from the next person
- Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissues and dispose properly in bins
- Clean kitchen utensils with washing detergents after each use
