Latest News Archive January 2022
100 articles
303 New Cases Today, High Recovery Rate for Health Workers
Total of 303 more people have tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 24 hours as of 12pm today.
Media Not Bulletin Board says MASI
The Media Association of Solomon Islands (MASI) is urging the government to allow the media to do their job freely and independently.
Mixed Message on Curfew Orders
The public has been told that only vaccinated individuals are allowed into town and have access to business and government services.
AFP Commissioner and Eight Members Return Home from Solomon Islands
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw and eight AFP members have returned to Australia following their respective trips and deployments to the Solomon Islands.
Lockdown Extended to 9am Tomorrow, Partial Lockdown Thereafter
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has extended the current lockdown to 9am tomorrow morning 30th January 2022. A partial lockdown will be implemented with immediate effect thereafter.
Public Servants Called on to Help in Food Distribution
Strong and Healthy Public Servants are urgently required to lend voluntary support towards the ongoing food distribution process to communities in Honiara during the current Covid restrictions.
Australian Medical Assistance Team Arrives in Honiara
Today, an AUSMAT rapid assessment team touched down in Honiara to bolster Solomon Islands capacity to respond to the current COVID-19 outbreak.
Australia Donates Food Supplies to Livelihood Sector
The Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) in the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) has received an overwhelming support of needed food supplies from the Australian Government on Thursday 27th January, 2022.
Health to Install Additional Emergency Phone Lines
The Ministry of Health and Medical services will be installing additional health emergency phone lines to cope with the surge in COVID-19 cases in the capital.
Restrictions Will Be in Place After Lockdown Lifted
Technical advisor at the Ministry of Health and Medical services, Dr Yogesh Choudhri, says there will be restrictions after lockdown is lifted 6pm this evening.
Measures Put in Place at NRH to Manage COVID Outbreak
The national referral hospital (NRH) are putting in place measures to control the spread of COVID-19 amongst staff and patients.
3,234 Vaccinated in New Drive to Increase Numbers
The Ministry of Health’s Dr Sarah Habu says up to 3,234 people have been vaccinated since community vaccinations started on Monday.
143 Positive Cases Today
The Health Ministry says that 143 new cases have been reported today after a 24-hour reporting period.
Police Calls for Public Cooperation in the Fight Against COVID-19
The Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) is urging residents of Honiara City and other parts of the country to take a leading role in ensuring their families and people act responsibly.
COVID-19 Response a Mess: Wale
The Prime Minister and his health minister must admit that they are currently presiding over a mess as a result of two years of negligence of a COVID outbreak in the country.
Need Gas? Origin Gas Given Go Ahead to Deliver Gas
Origin gas has been given the go ahead by relevant authorities to supply gas to residents in Honiara.
“101 Staff Infected:” National Referral Hospital Compromised
The Minister of Health and Medical services Dr Culwick Togamana says the national referral hospital (NRH) in Honiara is now compromised.
12 New COVID-19 Hotspots in Honiara Identified
The Minister of Health and Medical services Dr Culwick Togamana has advised the public of new community hotspots following positive tests recorded from residents in the area.
Vaccination Sites for Today
The Ministry of Health and Medical services advise the public of the following vaccination sites for today.
Livelihood Sector Committee Teams Up with Market Vendors
The Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) is partnering with Honiara Central Market Vendors Association (HCMVA) to provide fresh fruits and vegetables through mobile markets within the Honiara’s emergency zone during this lock-down period.
Livelihood Committee Calling for Volunteers
The Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) within the Ministry of Agriculture & Livestock (MAL) is looking for volunteers to support with food distribution today.
Lab Technicians Down With COVID-19
Two of our Senior Molecular Lab Technicians are currently down with COVID-19. The third is in Malaita to set up the testing lab at Kilu’ufi hospital.
‘Isolation Households’ Assisted With Food and Water
The Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) of the National Disaster Operation Committee (N-DOC) has commenced its Food and Water distribution support to ‘Isolation Households’ within the Honiara Emergency Zone yesterday.
There is Enough Food, Just Need to Better Organize
There is enough food to get us through this current Covid-19 outbreak, we just need to better organize.
Changes to Vaccination Sites Today in Communities
The Ministry of Health and Medical services has advised the public that changes have been made to todays vaccination program in selected communities in Honiara.
Livelihood Sector Thanks Australia, PRC and SIPA for Timely Food Donation
Chairman of the Livelihood Sector Committee of the National Disaster Operations Committee (N-DOC) Michael Ho’ota has thanked the Australian Government, Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) for food supplies that will be distributed to identified families in the Honiara Emergency Zone during the lockdown.
Livelihood Sector Committee Distributes Relief Food Supplies
Lord Howe settlement in Central Honiara is the latest community in isolation within Honiara’s Emergency Zone to have received assistance of food supplies from the Livelihood Sector Committee (LSC) since the covid-19 community transmission outbreak was declared.
Strict Home Isolation Crucial to Reduce COVID Transmission
Restricted movement and home isolation is crucial to reducing the rapid transmission of covid-19 in communities in view of the outbreak in Honiara and other Provincial hotspots.
Schedule for Community Vaccination
The following is the schedule for community vaccination by the MHMS and HCC mobile vaccination team, which started yesterday, 25th January 2022, and will continue through the lockdown.
Help Arrives for MV Awka Crew
The Livelihood Sector Committee of the National Disaster Operations Committees (N-DOC) has attended to the needs of those on board the COVID-19 stricken vessel MV Awka which anchored in the Point Cruz Harbour last Sunday, 23rd January 2022.
Health to Commence COVID 19 Mass Testing in Communities
The Minister of Health and Medical services Dr Culwick Togamana says his Ministry will start conducting mass testing of the general population in Honiara.
174 Positive COVID-19 Cases Today, 2 Deaths Recorded
Honiara has recorded 174 cases today. Two persons with underlying health conditions have also died from COVID-19.
Police Will Arrest Those in Breach of Lockdown: Mangau
Following the legal approval of the four-day lockdown, officers of the Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) will deploy officers to their strategic locations within the emergency as of 6pm today 25 January 2022.
What to do if You Are Exposed to Someone With COVID-19
As contact tracing and testing of primary and secondary contacts continue it is important to take preventive measures if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
COVID-19 Order Breach: SBD$15,000 Fine or Jail
The Minister of Health and Medical services Dr Culwick Togamana is reminding the public of the penalties associated with breaching COVID-19 orders.
Vaccination Roll Out in Honiara Communities Starts Today
Starting today vaccination teams in Honiara will be going out to Honiara communities to administer the COVID-19 vaccines.
476 Community Transmitted Cases Recorded
There are a total of 476 positive COVID-19 community transmission cases recorded as of 24th of January 2022.
PM Appeals for Local and Donor Support As Covid Numbers Soar
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has appealed to the local business community and development partners to support Government efforts to contain the ongoing covid outbreak in the capital Honiara.
4 Day Lockdown Starts Tomorrow
A 4 days lockdown period has been declared for Honiara Emergency Zone starting tommorow, 25th January 2022 at 6pm to 6pm Saturday, 29th January 2022.
Food Supply Mechanisms Must Be In Place For Longer Lockdown
Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has urged the Government to ensure food supply and distribution mechanisms are in place for a longer lockdown period.
Bans of Vessels and Aircraft Movements Remains Effective
The current ban on vessel and aircraft movement in and out of the Honiara Emergency remains effective.
Only Vaccinated Business Owners Allowed to Operate in Emergency Zone
Only business owners and employees that are fully vaccinated are allowed to conduct business services in the Honiara Emergency zone during the current covid situation.
Vaccination Today for Essential Workers Only, Others to Wait for Mobile Vaccination Team
The Ministry of Health has stated that there will now be a different strategy employed in the vaccination roll out.
Public Service to Resume Official Duties
Public Service will resume official duties with strict safety protocols on Monday 24th January 2022.
Australia Delivers Medical Supplies to Help in COVID-19 Outbreak
Australia has delivered the first of two deliveries of medical supplies to the Solomon Islands.
57 New Cases Recorded Today
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Medical services Pauline McNeil says the country now has an additional 57 positive cases of COVID-19 today, after a 24-hour testing and reporting period.
Redirect 2023 Games Funds to Fight COVID-19: Wale
Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has urged the Government to redirect resources to COVID health facilities and response services.
Police Enforces Order on Covid-19 Requirements in Honiara
The Royal Solomon Island Police Force (RSIPF) is enforcing order on emergency powers on COVID-19 Requirements in Honiara emergency zone starting from 6am today 22 January 2022.
Positive Covid-19 Cases Surge to 120
The number of positive COVID-19 cases has surged to 120 over a 24-hour reporting period. The total since community testing begun 5 days ago is 264. The grand total including those caught in quarantine is 289.
Asymptomatic Patients Will Not be Tested
The Ministry of Health says the emergency department at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) will not do swabs to test asymptomatic patients.
Opposition Leader Questions Inconsistences in PM’s Public Address
Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale has urged the Government to come clean following inconsistencies in the Prime Minister’s recent addresses.
Anglican Church Postpone Church Services as COVID-19 Numbers Rise
The Head of the Anglican Church in Melanesia, the Most Rev. Leonard Dawea, has asked Anglican churches in the Solomon Islands to postpone Church services this weekend in light of government warnings of a COVID-19 surge.
Lab Technicians Stretched as It Tries to Cope with Influx of Swab Samples
Lab technicians and resources at the hospital are said to be stretched thin as it tries to cope with a sudden influx of swab samples taken from recent tests conducted after the COVID-19 outbreak in Honiara.
Public Disregards Safety Measures
The public has disregarded safety measures after the lockdown was lifted this morning.
88 New Positive COVID-19 Cases
88 new positive COVID-19 cases have been recorded today.
MV Akwa Captain Attended Funeral Shortly After Arrival
The captain of MV Akwa is said to have attended a funeral somewhere on Guadalcanal shortly after the vessel arrived in Honiara on the 10th of January 2022.
Domestic and International Flights Suspended
Solomon Airlines has aligned with the lockdown in Honiara and public health measures announced by the Solomon Islands Government on 19 January 2022, closing the national carrier’s Point Cruz Sales Office and Head Office in Honiara, and undertaking only essential aircraft and system maintenance.
National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) on Full-On Activation Mode
The National Disaster Operations Centre is now on “Full Activation Mode” following the announcement of the sixty hours lockdown for Honiara Emergency Zone effective as of 6pm last night (19th January 2022).
COVID-19 Isolation Ward Near Full Capacity
The COVID-19 isolation ward, formally the multipurpose hall, is near full capacity as more positive cases are being recorded since the outbreak.
48 Positive Cases: “COVID-19 is in Our Community”
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says 48 positive locally transmitted cases have been recorded by the Ministry of Health.
Lockdown to Determine the Spread of Covid-19 Infection
The 60 hours lockdown that is effective for Honiara Emergency Zone is purposely to give the Ministry of Health and Medical Services to carry out contact tracing of MV Akwa’s trip from Ontong Java on the 10th January after a passenger on that trip was tested positive for COVID 19.
NRH in Emergency Mode, Only accepting Emergency, Accidents and Referrals
With the current COVID-19 community transmission in Honiara and ongoing response, the National Referral Hospital (NRH) is only accepting emergency, accidents and referral cases.
Get Tested: Let Us Fight This Virus Together
Today we awake to a new normal, while there is a sense of quite and calm, fact is we are now in the fight of our lives - our healthcare workers and frontliners are out there fighting this virus for us, for that we say thank you!
Honiara on Lock Down for 60 Hours
Honiara Emergency Zone will be in lockdown for 60 hours effective 6pm this evening to 6am Saturday 22 January 2022.
Covid Health Team Starts Contact Tracing
The health team would like to make contact with two groups of people as a matter of urgency.
BREAKING: Confirmed COVID-19 Community Transmission in Honiara
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has confirmed that there is now a positive community tested COVID-19 patient in Honiara.
IPC and OPC Congratulate the SI Paralympic Committee for Partnership With SINIS
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the Oceania Paralympic Committee (OPC) congratulate the Solomon Islands National Paralympic Committee (SINPC) for the partnership sealed with the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) High – Performance programme on Friday 14th January 2022.
Three More 3 Tonne Trucks for Waste Disposal Ready for Deployment to the Province
With the vast majority of the country’s population residing in the provinces, strengthening and improving provincial health capacity and capability to provide effective, efficient and safe services to the people remains top of health agenda.
We Now Have Community Transmission of COVID-19: Sogavare
Solomon Islands has recorded a community transmission of Covid-19 at Pelau in Ongtong Java atoll after six people tested positive for Covid-19 following the illegal entry of 10 people from Tasman Island to Pelau.
Need to do More for Border Communities to Stop COVID-19 Entry
The recent detection of COVID-19 on Ontong Java and on Shortland is a wakeup call, in that the threat is real and complacency will be our undoing in the fight against COVID-19.
USP Launches One-of-a-kind Semester Zero
The University of the South Pacific (USP) has launched Semester Zero, a one-of-a-kind initiative and a first-of-its-kind programme, for its provisional and potential first-year students to learn more about the University and get a "feel" of university life.
Team Solomons Attend PNG Investment Forum at Dubai Expo
Team Solomons at the Dubai Expo 2020 has attended a highly encouraging and successful Forum on ICT and Eco-Tourism organized by the PNG Expo delegation on Friday 14 January 2022.
SINU Appoints Dr Transform as Professor and Director of IOISD
The Solomon Islands National University (SINU) is proud and delighted to announce the appointment of a prominent Solomon Islands academic, Dr Transform Aqorau, as Professor and Director of the Institute of Ocean, Islands and Sustainable Development (IOISD).
SINIS Organizes Community Engagement Event to Strengthen Partnership
Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) High Performance programme embraces a truly holistic approach to the support it provides to athletes.
Volcano Erupts in Tonga, Triggers Tsunami
An undersea volcano that has been spewing lava for some time has erupted in Tonga, tsunami waves lashed the capital city Nuku'alofa and spread to parts of the Pacific.
Ontong Java to go on Lock Down
A lockdown will be enforced in Ontong Java as soon as legal instruments are in order.
Health Investigates Possible COVID Cases on Ontong Java After Illegal Border Crossing
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) is investigating 4 people at Pelau village in Ontong Java suspected of COVID-19 infection.
Ni-Van Photographer Wows Global Audience with Underwater Wedding Photo
A Ni-Van photographer has snapped up the world’s attention with an underwater wedding photo taken in Vanuatu.
Suspect Arrested and Charged with Murder in Tigoa
Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) at Tigoa in Rennell Bellona Province have arrested a second suspect in relation to the alleged murder of a 37-year-old male on 1st January 2022.
Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation (SIVF) Signs High Performance MOU With SINIS
The Solomon Islands Volleyball Federation (SIVF) is the first National Federation (NF) to sign the Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports (SINIS) High – Performance Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today.
MET Service Warns of Unstable Weather
The Solomon Islands MET service warns of strong wind and unstable weather conditions linked to an active trough south of the country.
RSIPF and AFP Engage in Public Order Trainings
Police Response Team (PRT) of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) completed level three Public Order Management (POM) training, which was conducted by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Specialist Tactical Group at Rove police headquarters on 10 January 2022.
Solomon Islands Panpipers: The Sounds of Our Ancestors
One of the unique features of the Solomon Islands is the talented panpipers, melodic tunes created from bamboo pipes, passed down from generations before.
Small Malaita Constituency Launches Phase 2 of its Road Infrastructure Program
The Small Malaita Constituency (SMC) has successfully launched the Phase II of its Road Infrastructure Program on 3rd January 2022 at Rorongo, thanks to the active involvement of the local Member of Parliament for Small Malaita Constituency, Hon. Rick Nelson Houenipwela.
British Envoy Presents Credentials to Prime Minister
The incoming British High Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, His Excellency Thomas Edward Coward presented his letter of introduction to the Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Hon. Manasseh Sogavare today.
Temotu Vatud Constituents to Benefit from 300k Fishing and Transportation Project
Member of Parliament for Temotu Vatud Constituency (TVC) Honourable Freda Rotutafi Rangirei has received eleven 15-horse and two 40-horse power outboard motor engines (OBM) from the Government Preferred Supplier, Fleet Solomons a locally owned company.
Another Body from Missing Boat Recovered
A body of a young child, believed to be from the missing boat that travelled between Gizo and the Shortland Islands, was recovered over the weekend.
Sports Institute to Launch High Performance Coach Scholarship Program
The Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport will soon launch a sports scholarship program targeting high performance coaches.
International Flights Suspended Until 2nd July 2022
Considering the current international COVID-19 environment Solomon Airlines has confirmed the extension of its regular international flight schedule suspension to Saturday 2 July 2022.
Sports Institute to Begin Talent Identification Program Soon
The Solomon Islands National Institute of Sport (SINIS) High Performance program will begin its initial phase to roll out its Talent Identification (TID) program to secondary schools starting Term one (1) Monday 31st January 2022.
The Threat of Omicron for the Unvaccinated
Data shows that the vast majority of those that contract the new variant Omicron experience mild symptoms, and are able to isolate and recover at home without much complications.
Western Border Incursion Pose Covid-19 Risks
The Western Border represents a potential source of Covid-19 incursion into the country.
Some Returning Nationals Are Not Complying With Quarantine Regulations
Some of our returning citizens have not complied with our quarantine requirements whilst serving quarantine.
SI Registers One Additional Covid-19 Case
The country has registered one additional Covid-19 case.
SI Registers First Delta and Omicron Covid-19 Variant Cases
The Ministry of Health has advised that the case from Dubai is of the Delta variant and the three from Fiji are of the Omicron variant.
Solomon Water Approves Increase in Water Tariff
In meeting the evolving regulatory requirements, water supply needs and customer expectations in the future, Solomon Water announces to its customers that as of January 1 2022 there has been an increase in water tariff.
Flights to Marau Suspended Due to Land Dispute
Solomon Airlines has confirmed the temporary suspension of flights between Honiara and Marau effective today 7 January until further notice, due to an ongoing dispute between local landowners.
PM Commissions SIFF Football Academy Grounds
Prime Minister Hon. Manasseh Sogavare today commissioned the ground breaking of the Pacific Games 2023- SIFF Football Academy.
Missing Wife Returns Safe After Spending a Week on an Island
A female adult was said to have spent close to a week on an island after an arguement with her husband, many feared the worst.
CDF Contributes to Improvements in Livelihood: MRD
"The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) has touched many lives and improved the livelihood of many," the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) says.
