Solomon Islands has recorded its first positive case of COVID-19. This was confirmed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare during a nationwide address this afternoon.
The first positive case of the COVID-19 is a student who returned on board the repatriation flight from the Philippines.
Sogavare says the student tested positive after he underwent routine tests upon arrival in Honiara. The student is asymptomatic, meaning he does not show or have symptoms of COVID-19.
Sogavare confirmed that the student tested negative in the Philippines prior to his departure.
The Prime Minister said all planning and preparation had not been in vain and he is confident that this case will be managed and contained.
The Ministry of Health is now in the process of contact tracing and people are being tested. Results will be released soon to relevant authorities.
Contact tracing for COVID-19 requires identifying people who may have been exposed to COVID-19 and following them up daily for 14 days from the last point of exposure.
Prime Minister Sogavare urges the public to be calm and not to panic.
He says all protocols and operation procedures have been activated. Investigations are in process and includes testing and assessment of frontliners.
"Government is well aware of the risks, keeping them there expose them to higher risk.
"There will be no lockdown as I have faith in our systems, if a lock down is required the public will be informed. For now all qurantine stations are a no go zone.
"Let us stand United," the Prime Minister said.