Tourism Solomons has advised all passengers entering the Solomons Islands via air and sea ports and other points of entry to adhere to new travel ban measures related to the COVID-19 coronavirus issued by the Ministry of Health.
The ban has been updated to include an expanded list of those countries that have been affected by the coronavirus.
Passengers who have been in or travelled through a ‘restricted country’ in the 14 days prior to arrival will be denied entry to the Solomon Islands.
Pasengers are advised that anyone who has been in or travelled through an ‘affected country’ in the 14 days prior will be required to complete a ‘health declaration card’ and also be subject to screening on arrival.
The new advisory follows further meetings between the Solomon Islands Government, the Ministry of Health, and Medical Services (MHMS).
Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto said the revised assessment further builds on action instigated by local medical authorities in early January in close consultation with their immigration and customs counterparts.
“As an ongoing part of the procedure, all incoming visitors irrespective of point of entry are being provided with guidance on what to do if they think they have the infection,” he said.
Health experts fear the COVID-19 Coronavirus is on the verge of spreading across the world. Large clusters of cases are emerging outside China in South Korea, Italy, and Iran, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects severe disruptions to occur within the United States.
To date no cases of the virus had been detected in the Solomon Islands.
Restricted Countries
People's Republic of China
Republic of Korea
Japan
Singapore
Italy
Hong Kong SAR
Thailand
Iran
Chinese Taipei
Macau
Affected countries (as at 0800 hours, 27 February 2020)
Afghanistan
Australia
Bahrain
Belgium
Cambodia
Canada
Egypt
Finland
France
Germany
India
Iraq
Israel
Kuwait
Lebanon
Malaysia
Nepal
Oman
Philippines
Russia
Sri Lanka
Spain
Sweden
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Vietnam
Source: Press Release