BY KHAMA LINCOLN
WESTERN PROVINCE identifies regions for its first lockdown to stop community transmission of COVID in the Province, in a lockdown proposal submitted to the national oversight committee yesterday.
Chairman of the Provincial Disaster Committee and Provincial Secretary Jeffery Wickham said that, “Honiara will do the formal announcement. Meanwhile we are working on it and hopefully will get the announcement for the lockdown.
“For the next three days, regions for lockdown are, Marovo, Munda, Noro and Gizo starting at 6pm (Wednesday) this evening and will be lifted on Sunday 6am.
“There are certain measures that we enforce during the lockdown period. It will come out publicly on notice boards. Measures required under the lockdown period.”
He said, for instance if people experience shortage with food and water during lockdown period, then call operation center to make arrangement for deliveries.
“That will apply mainly for Gizo and Noro, those are some of the assistance will be provided during lockdown. And there are other rules that also apply.
“Meanwhile, the provincial health teams are still in Marovo to do swabbing at Rukutu and seghe. And also, to do contact tracing at Munda and Noro as the LC Nusa Tupe have recently berthed there and it was reported that certain crews also mingle around with villagers there.
“He said, normal rules also apply to other islands not affected by the lockdown. They are still required to apply COVID safety measures enforced.”
Those Islands are, kolobangara, Ranogga, Vella, Simbo and the Shortlands – they are still expected comply with the safety COVID measures.”
Provincial Disaster Officer Danny Ruele said, Provincial Disaster committee submitted a lockdown proposal for National Oversight Committee to authorize the lockdown in the mentioned areas. This is to allowed health teams to do contact tracing and assessment based on recent reports of positive cases of crews onboard LC Nusa Tupe, a landing craft serving the province, and based at the Nusa Tupe Island Airport.
“The Lockdown order is to restrict movement in the identified areas for health team to work in the areas. we want to do lockdown in Marovo, Munda, Noro and Gizo as well as North new Georgia area. This is to allow health team to do contact tracing and also to stop spread of COVID-19 incase we have community transmission.
“Approval and endorsement of this proposal comes from the National level, the oversight committee. And any lockdown order for us will come from the Prime Minister.
Meanwhile, the Health Teams have prepared the provincial response team to carryout contact tracing and follow up on reports in their areas of interest.
“Sector Committees of Provincial Disaster Operation Committee have activated their arrangements and are prepared to deal with the community transmission, at the provincial level, with their own Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). They will respond according to their SOP.
“Every sector committee to ensure people continue to apply health and safety measures in our communities and province.” Provincial Disaster Officer Danny Ruele said.
Featured Photo: At Gizo Town this week. (CREDIT: KHAMA LINCOLN)
