Tulagi bans selling of betel-nut

Tulagi in the Central Islands Province is the first provincial capital to indefinitely ban the sell of betelnut as a measure to control any potential spread of COVID-19.

Premier Stanley Manetiva told SBMOnline that the measure became effective yesterday.

He said the is to avoid people chewing and spitting which potentially will spread the virus and from sharing of lime as well.

Manetiva said the ban stops people from bringing in their betelnut to the Tulagi market and from selling it in the town. The ban is only for betelnut whilst other local produce are still sold at the market.

Meanwhile the premier also confirmed that Tulagi has started its own curfew stating that by 10pm—all movements by people in the town is stopped or limited.

He said it is an understanding amongst the residents in Tulagi that there should be no movement after 10pm.

The old capital has also monitored ships entering its shores and now has only two designated places for canoes to land on the island town at Taporo and the market.

Besides Guadalcanal, the Central Islands Province, is the closest to Honiara which currently experiencing a community transmission of COVID-19.

News@SBMOnline2022