SOGAVARE HAPPY WITH CITIZENS COOPERATION IN FIGHT AGAINST COVID-19

Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare has expressed his deepest gratitude to all citizens for their cooperation with government authorities during this period of a State of Public Emergency in Solomon Islands.
Sogavare thanked those who are at the frontline as the countrys’ first line of defence against covid-19.
These patriotic Solomon Islanders are putting their lives on the line to protect us. They are working around the clock to ensure that we are safe, he said in his 3rd National Address on Friday.
He added that their commitment and sacrifice for the common good of all Solomon Islanders is a testament to our national motto To Lead is To Serve.
The Prime Minister also conveyed his gratitude to our development partners for their support in our fight against the deadly virus.
Our friends have shown great commitment in our collective efforts and I must sincerely thank them, Sogavare said.
Australia has announced a SB$70 million funding to boosts efforts to fight covid-19. Similarly, New Zealand has donated NZ$3 million while the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) has donated SB$2.5 million plus medical supplies. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has offered US$26 million while the World Bank has offered US$20 million to support the countrys’ ongoing efforts to prevent covid-19 from entering Solomon Islands.
Covid-19 has been the councountry single biggest threat and the Government has taken drastic measures to address the potential entry or spread of the virus even before the World Health Organisation has declared the virus as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).
The virus is highly infectious and rapidly spreading worldwide to 204 countries infecting more than 1 million people and has killed more than 53,000 people.