Solomon Islands' first COVID-19 case is student repatriated from Philippines

The first coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) case in the Solomon Islands is a student who was repatriated from the Philippines, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare announced Saturday.

“The person is a student that came on a repatriation flight on the Philippines. It pains me to say that we have lost our COVID-19-free status despite all collective efforts to prevent the pandemic from entering our country,” Sogavare said at a live briefing.

“This is [a] disappointing setback to the extraordinary efforts of all officials, personnel, and community stakeholders that have been actively involved in working to prevent COVID-19,” he added.

Sogavare said the student, who was quarantined in Manila, tested negative in three COVID-19 tests before boarding the repatriation flight.

He added that the results of the confirmatory test will be made available “later today.”

“Our post-arrival testing protocols require all arrivals to be tested within fully eight hours of arrival. The student was picked up during this first test run. A full specimen has been collected for confirmation.” he said.

Meanwhile, the other students who came in contact with the positive case have also been tested, according to Sogavare.

“Their results were inconclusive. They, too, have been re-tested and their results will also be available later this afternoon,” he said.

The students and his close contacts are now undergoing isolation at the National Referral Hospital isolation facility.

"Contact tracing is in operation. This process includes informing our representatives in Manila to ensure that persons who came into contact with the infected student in Manila are also informed and necessary precautions are put in place," Sogavare said.

The prime minister also assured the public that the response measures prepared by the government for the past 8 months have been activated.

“And the government is confident of its capacity to respond, contain, and manage the situation to ensure that the safety and well being of the public is maintained,” he said. -MDM, GMA News