BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
CENTRAL Islands Province (CIP) has recorded its first 17 Coronavirus (Covid-19) positive cases during a recent swab testing at provincial capital, Tulaghi.
Reports from CIP Provincial Disaster Operating Centre (PDOC) strongly stands with their confirmation of 17 new COVID cases in Tulaghi from 96 swabs tested.
Data shown from the ArcGIS COVID-19 Dashboard yesterday also confirmed the 17 positive COVID cases for Tulaghi.
The confirmations comes as there are conflict of results data after the official COVID status updates by Minister of Health, Culwick Togamana yesterday who stated that CIP only recorded one positive case from 17 swab tests done.
ArcGIS COVID-19 Dashboard is a Live COVID site provided by United Nations Satellite Centre, UNITAR-UNOSAT through the Common Sensing Project.
Live updated data of COVID cases in each communities and provinces are compiled and updated daily by National Emergency Operation Center and Health Emergency Operation Center.
Despite the conflicting data results, Premier Hon Stanley Manetiva strongly calls on his people to stay calm and not panic as the focus now is to listen to the health authority and the Provincial Disaster Operating Centre (PDOC) in what is needed to be done in order to prevent the virus from spreading further throughout the province.
“As the Premier of Central Province I am very saddened to hear the news that Tulaghi provincial capital now has 17 positive COVID-19 cases,” said Manetiva.
“We earlier have given out warning for the people to take precaution but there are few who did not want to follow and adhere to instructions that were given even when Covid-19 had already entered our country.
“Despite of that situation I would like to call on the people to not panic. We need to hear what the health authority of the province and PDOC will have to say in what needs to be done in order to prevent us so that the virus does not spread to communities.”
The CIP Premier is calling on all villages throughout the province to also strengthen and empower their Covid-19 regulations so that there will be no transmission from the positive cases at Tulaghi to communities.
“Currently, my provincial government along with PDOC and the health authority are to meet and come up with some kind of awareness for the people at Tulaghi so that they do not panic,” said Manetiva.
“Today, as the government, I will liaise with PDOC and we will move on another step in how we can best deal with the confirmed cases. From believe, the number has the possibility to increase.
“But again I call on the people to not panic, but let us face the real situation. So not only Tulaghi, but surrounding communities at Ngella and CIP as a whole, I want to repeat for them to uphold the COVID-19 regulations as I call on the people to follow them. When we follow the regulations, it will help us to not spread the virus.
“For boat owners, to travel to Tulaghi or Honiara from Ngella surroundings, please do not travel. The same goes for Savo and Russell. Remain in communities and abide by Covid-19 rules.”
The Premier is also calling on the frontliners of CIP to empower themselves, have confidence and have trust in themselves through this current situation faced.
“My people will depend on you. You must carry out your duties well so that my people will not be frustrated or discouraged. This is my appeal for PDOC and the health team for CIP,” said Manetiva.
“To families, stick to yourselves in your family households, do not hang about unnecessarily or do not go to other homes unnecessarily. This again will help to not spread the virus.
“For the safety of our people at Tulaghi I will be liaising with PDOC and our health authority to see the possibility of a lockdown as we need to.
“A formal meeting will be held today to see to actions that are needed to take care of Tulaghi.
“We need to take tough measures and strategies because we are very close to Honiara.”
It is understood PDOC, CIP’s Health Authority, Provincial Government and Administration received the official names of the positive cases around 3:55pm yesterday from NHEOC, consisting of frontliners and locals from contact tracing done.
