BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
A MEMBER of the Lord Howe settlement has raised concern over the delay of response from COVID 19 swabbing team.
The concern was raised after the people contacted the emergency toll number 115 but was unable to receive response as of Wednesday 19th January till now (Thurs 20).
“One was my niece who have a close contact with those who come over from Ontong Java on the MV Akwa trip,” The concern individual who wants to remain anonymous stated when interviewed yesterday.
“We called several time on Wednesday to number ‘115’ however there was no response till now ( Thursday 20th January).
The concern mother said that transmission could already spread – taking the virus from those who come over from MV Akwa.
“Instead of doing the swabbing for those calling endlessly, they went to do the swabbing at MV Akwa. They should prioritize the Lord Howe settlement that might be also at high risk,” she said.
She said that since the Government had declared Lord Howe settlement a ‘No gone Zone’ they have felt that there is discrimination coming in from the public.
“MV Solomon Prestige 2 was suppose to sail to Ontong Java to deliver food supplies, till now the vessel still anchored outside of point Cruz awaiting confirmation from the authorities,” continued the mother.
“I boarded the ship, we departed Saturday last week and it happened that we only slept over at Tulaghi. We returned to Honiara on Sunday. We are worried that the food we purchased for our people will be wasted.
She said that the people are in a state of worry and panic and appealed to the authority to make a quick response.
It is understood that health teams are working tirelessly to do contact tracing since when the first COVID-19 case was diagnosed on Wednesday 19th January.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his recent nationwide address announced that of the 48 new positive COVID cases recorded recently in Honiara, “33 cases are crews of a vessel that have been exposed to passengers that travel from Ontong Java on another vessel and were returning to Ontong Java, 9 cases are members of the family of a person that arrived in Honiara from Ontong Java on 10th January 2022.
“4 cases, a staff of Solomon Islands Maritime Authority, and Solomon Islands Enterprises Limited that had come into contact with a crew and a passenger from the vessel that arrived in Honiara on 10th January 2022.
The Prime Minister has also confirmed that 2 cases are from the Lordhowe settlement in Honiara.
