SOLOMON Islands has remained COVID-19 free for than five months now.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare highlighted in his nationwide address today.
“We have been COVID-19 free for the past 5 months,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the border closure and restriction measures, the stringent pre-departure requirements and hard work from our frontliners has kept the COVID-19 virus out of the country.
However, Prime Minister Sogavare said despite controlling the entry points well, we still face risks from illegal border crossers at the western border and from foreign vessels that trade with Solomon Islands.
The Prime Minister said he has been informed that several people from Bougainville have crossed the border to harvest beche-de-mer and had interacted with several people in the Shortlands.
He said such activities only increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
“I call on all village chiefs, elders, community members to please refrain from interacting with people from across the border,” he said.
The Prime Minister also urged people from the other side of the border to respect the country’s border restrictions.
Prime Minister said people should avoid interactions with those from the other side.
“If any of you get infected, you will spread the virus to your families, the village community, and the whole country,” he said.
The Prime Minister said the responsibility to protect our country from COVID-19 rests with all of us.
-GCU Press