Kits to test for COVID-19 will arrive in Honiara this week.
In his nationwide address on Friday, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare said testing kits from the Republic of China (PRC) will arrive next week.
Sogavare said once these kits arrive, Solomon Islands will look at closing down the international entry airports.
He said government understands international airports are possible entry points for COVID-19.
“We appreciate that this measure is going to put Solomon Airlines under serious financial situation. The government is holding talks with the airlines management to establish the effects of these measures on the airline and to agree on measures to keep the airline operating during this difficult time”, Sogavare said.
Sogavare said government is working with PRC to establish the country’s capacity to test COVID-19 samples locally. He said this is to speed up the process of establishing the status of a suspected case.