• High chance Covid-19 infect suspect
• Official result yet to arrive
• Third sample sent
By ANDREW FANASIA
A local medical expert revealed that there is a high chance that coronavirus (COVID-19) will spread as the symptoms shown by the suspects is similar to COVID-19.
The test result is expected from Melbourne, Australia today.
Speaking to this paper a local doctor who wishes to withhold his identity said the country has a highly suspected case here under close supervision.
“If the result of the first two samples turns out positive we do not know where the extent of the virus will spread because those suspects still reside in their own home awaiting the results,” the doctor said.
The doctor further stressed that the fear is that there is not enough space and our government with the responsible ministry did not prepare enough isolation room if the number increase.
“Just imagine the virus did not wait for the result to arrive before it passes on to another person this is not to scare our people but the truth must come out.
“And that is our government is very slow and we do not have proper isolation center with proper equipment like ICU or High Dependency Unit to cater for COVID-19 cases,” the local doctor said.
When this paper asked about the number of the sample were sent for testing so far National Referral Hospital Lab Director Alfred Dofai confirmed that apart from the first two suspects a third sample was sent yesterday.
“So at the moment we have 3 suspects and their samples were already sent the latest one was today (yesterday,” Dofai told this paper.
This paper also asked if the results are ready Dofai explained that he was made aware that the Melbourne Laboratory is very busy at the moment.
“At the moment they have piles of samples because it’s not just us Solomon Islands, that lab is doing samples for almost all the Asia/Pacific countries right now amidst the COVID-19 crisis,” he added.
Dofai also explained that the first sample which was sent on Friday last week was cleared on Sunday, while the 2nd sample they sent on Sunday was just cleared by their customs yesterday.
“We expect the result of the first sample anytime from now,” Dofai said.
Meanwhile, the good news this country has been waiting for is that the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) will supply COVID-19 kits for the Solomon Islands.
This was announced yesterday by the head of the taskforce Embassy in Solomon Islands Yao Ming during a joint press conference in Honiara.