Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) In the past 72 hours (from Sunday 24th April 2022), have recorded another 1,226 more COVID-19 cases, bringing total case count to 14182 (9 old cases from Honiara also added).
In her remarks at during the COVID-19 Oversight Committee talk back show yesterday, Mrs. Pauline McNeil Health Permanent Secretary said that 1037 of these cases detected are from Honiara where large-scale community transmission is ongoing. “Total in Honiara 6,662 with 1105 cases added in current 2nd wave since April 13”.
With provincial COVID case updates, Mrs McNeil also announced Temotu province the only province to have remained COVID-19 free since the start of the outbreak have now recorded its first seven (7) cases.
“Temotu Province for the first time since the outbreak in January recorded its first 7 COVID-19 cases following COVID-19 testing done yesterday. This is expected due to community transmission across the country and movements of people to and from the province. All these cases were in the incoming 14 passengers who travelled from Honiara to Temotu and were detected in quarantine. All their close contacts have also been quarantined and further investigations are on. At present there is no evidence of community transmission of COVID in Temotu”, explained Mrs McNeil.
For all other provinces she highlighted new cases in the past 72 hours and the total case count as of Sunday 24th.
In terms of hospitalization, the Health Permanent Secretary cautioned of high transmission rate within the hospital amongst patients though majority remains in mild condition with only 3 patients needing oxygen.
“NRH is currently managing 17 COVID-19 patients in its COVID-19 ward. 3 out from the 17 cases are severe cases needing oxygen. However many other patients admitted at other NRH wards, for other health issues have also tested positive, 70 plus in total including 35 in the Emergency Department. These patients at this stage are considered to be mild and primarily being treated for their other health conditions while IPC (infection, prevention and control) measures in place to mitigate further spread to other COVID-19 negative patients”, said Mrs. McNeil.
She further informed that based on the current clinical picture that health experts are seeing is one that is consistent with Omicron however confirmation on this can only be made once results from samples sent overseas for genome sequencing returns this week.
“For now public is advised to refrain from making any visits to family members and friends admitted at the hospital. Only care givers allowed. Health still maintains calls for all those with underlying health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease to come to NRH if tested positive for COVID early and do not wait for symptoms to worsen.
Hospitalization for the provinces still shows declining trend with all patients considered medically to be mild. “One COVID-19 patient each for Malaita, Guadalcanal, Central Islands and Isabel provinces, three patients in Makira and four in Western province, all other provinces reported zero COVID-19 patients”, said Mrs McNeil.
In terms of deaths related to COVID-19, Mrs McNeil said that no deaths have been recorded in the past 72 hours therefore total death count still remains at 140.
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