CONCERNS have intensified in Malaita Province as the vessel of interest – MV Awka that transported the first COVID-19 victim in Honiara on Monday 10th January 2022, might have already transferred the virus in Malaita after it made two trips after arriving from Ontong Java.
Information reaching Solomon Star Auki claimed that MV Awka arrived from MOI on Monday 10th January 2022 at Honiara wharf, and made another trip to South Malaita the same day.
“MV Akwa on the same date traveled to Small Malaita and successfully returned to Honiara fully packed with traveling passengers.
“Also this week, the vessel made a second trip to East Are’are when the news of the COVID-19 community transmission was aired,” concerned Malaitan observers have stated.
At the moment, those who came in contact with the ship and its crew are now worried they might have caught COVID-19 virus when traveling onboard the ship.
It is understood that the vessel is leaving Malaita now.
The ship left for Honiara at 2pm this afternoon, fully loaded with passengers mainly from East Are’are.
While there is no official confirmation that people traveling on MV Awka on its two trips to Small Malaita and East Are’Are have contracted the virus, people feared that the chances of contracting the virus while onboard the ship is high given the fact that it has visited MOI in recent weeks.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki News Bureau
