Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says he has been informed that one in two residents in Honiara are infected with the COVID-19 virus.
That means close to 50,000 people living in Honiara are now infected with the virus.
The Prime Minister made the startling revelation during his nationwide address on the national broadcaster yesterday.
He says the situation in Honiara is now stretched to the limit and community transmission is very high, urging residents in Honiara to minimize movements into town.
“That is why we need to reduce our movements in and around Honiara because if we have the virus we will transmit it, and if we do not have it, we will likely get infected and bring it home to our families and loved ones,” Prime Minister Sogavare said.
He says despite the many challenges, the government, through relevant agencies, will step up its efforts to test people for COVID-19 and also administer the lifesaving vaccine.
“We will increase the number of testing and vaccination sites within the Honiara emergency zone. This will include Honiara city clinics and identified testing and vaccination centers set up within strategic locations in the Honiara emergency zone.”
He says the oversight committee will finalize and publicize the new sites within the coming days.
Prime Minister Sogavare admits that things will get worse before it gets better.