Tourism Solomons Coronavirus Update – 02 February 2020

Honiara, Solomon Islands – Tourism Solomons has advised all passengers entering the Solomons Islands via air and sea ports and other points of entry from those countries where coronavirus has been detected will be subject to assessment by immigration and health officials upon arrival with immediate effect.

The decision to assess inbound visitors follows a meeting between the Solomon Islands Government, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) and Solomon Airlines which met with representatives from the High Commissions of several countries to update and clarify the country’s stance on its efforts to contain the spread of the virus.

Under the ruling any person who has been in a country where there is a confirmed case of the coronavirus 14 days prior to arriving in the Solomon Islands will be subject to assessment and   may be allowed to enter the Solomon Islands.

However, if showing symptoms or unwell, they may be subject to detention or placed in quarantine until they are shown to be free from infection.

Tourism Solomons CEO, Josefa ‘Jo’ Tuamoto said the assessment decision built on action already taken by local medical authorities which are working closely with their immigration and customs counterparts, training them on how to recognise cases of 2019-nCoV.

“Incoming visitors are also being provided with guidance on what to do if they think they have the infection,” he said.

To date no cases of the virus had been detected in the Solomon Islands,