The 18 Solomon Island students in the Philippines who tested positive for COVID-19 have been given the all clear.

Secretary to Prime Minister (SPM) Dr. Jimmie Rodgers says the students have now completed their isolation time and should now move to the hotel where they will be staying for the next few weeks.

“The maximum time frame is 14 days. From the date that you are positive to the date you should be tested negative ranges from six to eight sometimes ten days”, Rodgers says.

He says by the time they reach 14 days, they should be in the all clear. Rodgers says the students have so far remained asymptomatic and there were no reports of reinfection.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Ms. Pauline McNeil says despite graduating from the positive COVID-19 status, the students are still expected to carry out COVID-19 tests as per Solomon Islands protocol.

“They have to repeat the three negative tests before they come back”, McNeil says.

The first confirmed cases of Solomon Islanders in the Philippines were made known on the 13th of September.

The Red Cross in the Philippines is still assisting the government of Solomon Islands carry out COVID-19 tests on all Solomon Islanders still in the Philippines.

The next repatriation flight to the Philippines was set down for the 26th of October, however the Prime Minister has indicated that all flights have been put on hold while contact tracing is being conducted.

The Solomon Islands recorded its first positive case of the COVID-19 on Saturday from one of the students that returned recently from the Philippines.