No reason or fear to judge people discharged from quarantine sites

The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) wants to assure the public that people who are discharged from quarantine after the 14-day holding period pose no health risk to their communities.

Permanent Secretary for Health, Mrs. Pauline McNeil, said people had been placed in quarantine not because they were sick, but because there was a risk they had been exposed to the virus while travelling through affected countries. 

“Quarantine is a precautionary measure to ensure our communities and country are protected from possible importation of the COVID-19 virus,” she said. “These people have been closely monitored by health workers for 14 days (2 weeks) and if they have shown no signs of having contracted the virus, they are free to return to their communities as they no longer pose any risk.”

Quarantine is a key measure deigned to keep the COVID-19 virus out of Solomon Islands for as long as possible.  All international incoming passengers are placed in quarantine for 14 days. They have been daily monitored and observed by trained health workers while in the quarantine centres. 

The Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that no one in quarantine has the disease before they are allowed back into our communities. If they develop signs and symptoms of COVID-19 within 14 days of observation while in quarantine centers, they will be immediately transferred to the isolation facility to be looked after. 

After being quarantined from family and friends for two weeks, Mrs McNeil said people returning to their communities would need support and kindness – they should not to be judged or feared.

 We should support and applaud those who have gone through the 14 day quarantine period for their commitment and responsibility as fellow citizens during these challenging times. The Ministry of Health appeals to everyone to not to judge anyone leaving quarantine.  “Let us all work together to protect ourselves and our families from COVID-19”.