THE Oversight Committee will soon be announcing strategies to contain and control the COVID-19 outbreak in Honiara.
This was revealed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his special address this afternoon (Thursday 20th January) on the COVID-19 situation in the country.
Mr Sogavare said COVID-19 is in our community and it will affect many people therefore the Oversight Committee in its meeting this morning has agreed to finalise its action plan to respond to the multifaceted challenges now faced in the country.
He said the plan, which will be further refined by the Oversight Committee tomorrow, will among others provide the following;
- A strategy to respond to, contain and control the COVID-19 outbreak in Honiara.
- A strategy to respond to, contain and control the COVID-19 outbreak in Ontong Java
- A strategy to respond to the COVID-19 hotspots in provinces that have been associated with Ontong Java in the past three weeks. These include Western Province, Choiseul Province, Isabel Province, Guadalcanal Province and Makira Ulawa Province.
In the meantime, the Prime Minister called on all members of the public to start adopting and implementing COVID-19 safe practices which include the following;
- Limit your movements into town
- Wear facemasks when you leave your homes, do not leave your home if you are not wearing a facemask.
- Practice social distancing of at least 2 metres from the next person.
- Use hand sanitisers and wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Do not congregate.
- Practice social distancing and use face masks when travelling in public transports.
- Maximum of three people per taxi and only two people per row in public buses.
- Use masks when you go into shops and the market.
The Prime Minister also asked all eligible people in Solomon Islands who are yet to be vaccinated to get vaccinated as soon as possible starting Monday next week.
“…please get vaccinated as soon as possible starting Monday next week.
“You cannot delay anymore. Vaccination is the only proven way to protect you from COVID-19.
“The Ministry of Health together with the Health Division of the Honiara City Council will make COVID-19 vaccination available in Honiara City Council clinics in addition to the current station at the ports authority area from Monday next week,” Mr Sogavare said.
