PM says gov’t will provide some food to city residents during 4 days’ lockdown

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With the longest lockdown set to start tomorrow (Tuesday) at 6pm to Saturday 6pm, Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare says his government through the Oversight Committee will try to provide some food support to communities during the lock down period to ensure people the communities can remain in their homes.

With COVID-19 spreading into the communities in Honiara at a very fast rate, Sogavare announced that a four-day-lockdown has been agreed by his government and will be reviewed before its expiry on either to continue or discontinue after Saturday 6pm.

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Leader of Opposition Matthew Wale this afternoon issued a statement urgning the government to ensure food supply mechanism is in place for longer lockdowns.

Speaking this afternoon in his national address, Sogavare said: “The government through the Oversight Committee will try to provide some food support to communities during the lock down period to ensure people living in our communities can remain in their homes.

I ask all residents living in the Honiara Emergency Zone to please respect the lockdown period and stay home during this time so that we can reduce the transmission of the virus and contain and control the current epidemic of COVID-19 in the country,” he said.

I ask all residents living in the Honiara Emergency Zone to please respect the lockdown period and stay home during this time so that we can reduce the transmission of the virus and contain and control the current epidemic of COVID-19 in the country.

Sogavare has also asked the Solomon Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the business houses to assist the government in implementing this lockdown to reduce transmission and contain and control the epidemic.

He requested for the provision of food supply to the NDMO and Livelihood committee. This would be Rice, Taiyo, Noodles, Tea, Sugar, salt so they can distribute to communities during the lockdown period.

“If each retail shop in Honiara makes a contribution to these items, we will probably have enough to support even a 2-week lockdown which is a better lockdown period for COVID-19,” said the prime minister.

Sogavare also appealed to the Chinese association.

“I ask members of the Chinese Association of Solomon Islands to please provide support to enable the lockdown to occur for the longer period.I know you have suffered badly during the recent rioting, but I ask for your support to help control this COVID-19 outbreak in the Honiara emergency zone,” he said.

News@SBMOnline2022