BY ALEX DADAMU
SECRETARY to Prime Minister, Dr. Jimmy Rodgers has clarified commentaries which claimed that the origin of the Coronavirus that causes the outbreak in Honiara was originated from the International deployment force that arrive in Honiara to assist the country after the riots last year.
Dr. Rodgers speaking during the COVID-19 Radio Talk back show hosted today explained that he can guaranteed 110 percent that the virus that infiltrate Honiara which resulted in an outbreak in the City spreading to the certain provinces was not from the International Force deployed to Solomon Islands.
“All of members of the deployment were tested for 14 days when they arrived in the country and they have tested negative in all those tests.
“After that, they were tested after every 7 days during their stay in the country – all tests are negative,” Dr. Rodgers confirmed.
He stated that most definitely, the origin of the virus is from Ontong Java and called on those circulating the rumours to stop misinforming the public.
Other ships have visited Ontong Java before MV. Awka however, the Ship (MV Awka) is the center of attention because the 44 passengers that traveled in the vessel have now left the ship to locations in Honiara City and other locations outside of the City and to provinces.
Those locations are the ones that COVID contact tracers currently established as the hotspot for the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his nationwide address yesterday stated that it has been confirmed that the outbreak in Ontong Java started before the outbreak in Honiara.
“We can also confirm that all the cases in Honiara have been traced to travelers that came from Ontong Java to Honiara.”
Sogavare said they also know from information provided by the Solomon Islands Maritime Authority three other vessels arrived in Honiara from Ontong Java before the arrival of MV Awka on 10th January 2022. These vessels are:
• MV Liberty III – which arrived in Honiara from Luaniua on 16 December 2021
• MV Carolina – that arrived in Savo Islands on 30 December 2021 and likely proceeded to Honiara
• MV Ocean Joy – that arrived in Honiara from Luaniua on 29 December 2021
“We have also been advised that a fourth vessel, known simply as PWI-2 went directly from Ontong Java to Choiseul province between mid-December 2021 and mid-January 2022,” he said.
Sogavare said while we have been able to link the vast majority of the positive COVID-19 cases to passengers and crews of MV Awka, a small number are linked to an earlier vessel – either MV Carolina or MV Ocean Joy.”
Featured Photo: Dr. Jimmy Rodgers in today’s talk back show.
