BY LIVETT MYRNE
Isles Media Freelance Reporter in Gizo
PRACTISING covid protocols has now become a personal choice for Gizo’s general public, despite rumours of the highly contagious virus’ second wave.
Street Vendors, selling betel nuts and fish are not wearing masks, using sanitisers or maintaining two meters distance and people now are entering shops in Gizo town without observing COVID measures.
A shop assistant when asked why the shop they are allowing people to enter without masks, said there’s no real difference between wearing masks or not wearing them.
He said they learned that nurses and frontlines contracted the virus with full-time masks on and that has caused suspicion on the effectiveness of using masks.
“What I see is we cannot see the virus, unlike mosquitoes for malaria. He said. Unless we go for swabbing, then we will realize whether we’re infected with the virus or not.”
Another shop assistant working in a bottle shop in Gizo town which is not strict with covid protocols said, they learned that people recovered a few days after contracting the virus, by using steam and other means.
“People who are infected recovered after few days, with regular use of steam, drinking lemon and hot water.” He said.
Meanwhile, the Health Minister, Culwick Togamana in his recent national address highlighted that the COVID-19 fight is not yet over and therefore the country must not let its guard down yet but continue to uphold COVID-19 safe measures.
He said though Omicron though less severe when compared to Delta which has been the cause of the 1st wave, those unvaccinated more especially with underlying health conditions, the elderly and those with risk behaviors still remain at risk of being sick and even die from the new variant.
Dr Togamana highlighted that what is critical for the country is for everyone to remain united in solidarity as one family in the fight against COVID-19.
