Solomon Islands

This was revealed by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in a national address on Friday.

Mr Sogavare said the country's newly established testing facilities have the potential to carry out more than 3000 tests although the current capacity is at around 500.

He said so far four people who displayed symptoms of COVID-19 have been tested locally.

"Therefore, we have undertaken a total of 17 COVID-19 tests altogether, 13 done overseas and four done in country. All results, negative," Mr Sogavare said.

A number of big projects funded by the Chinese government were scheduled to get underway this year, including the construction of the new national stadium in Honiara, while the Indonesian government had indicated the multi-purpose hall could be completed by the end of next year.

Lead advisor to the National Hosting Authority, Clint Flood, said the majority of facilities were still in the design stage and they did not expect Covid-19 would impact the construction timeline at this stage.

The director of the national disaster office, Loti Yates, said much of the plains are under water after days of torrential rain, and several villages have lost their food source.

Mr Yates said the plains also supply much of the food for the densely-populated capital, Honiara.

"These are the communities that are actually feeding Honiara and the markets, and so that's going to impact on their livelihoods as well. So it's going to be a huge challenge for us."

It is understood the vessel MV Taimareho was carrying passengers from the capital Honiara to West Are Are in Malaita Province last night when it encountered bad conditions.

The Solomon Islands Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre says it only received word of the stricken ship's ordeal late this morning, and its officers are scrambling to launch a rescue operation.

According to the cente, the vessel encountered very rough seas and strong winds whipped up by Cyclone Harold between 2am and 3am this morning - a number of passengers were washed overboard.

The Solomon Islands Meteorology Service said a Tropical Cyclone Warning is current for all Solomon Islands provinces.

The category 1 system is slamming Solomon Islands as it makes it way down the country, heading towards Vanuatu.

On Friday, the Director of the Director of the National Disaster Management Office, Loti Yates, said at least two ships had been washed ashore, fallen trees were blocking roads and the power was out in many areas.

The Solomon Star reported the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Education, Franco Rodie issued the directive, as part of the country's Covid-19 response strategy.

Dr Rodie said the mass repatriation of people from the capital to their home provinces following the declaration of a State of Public Emergency last week was causing anxiety and confusion for schools and education authorities.

Because of this Dr Rodie ordered all schools to close with a tentative return date set for the 27th of April.

The prime minister made the announcement in a public address last night after a national emergency meeting in the capital Port Moresby to discuss the country's Covid-19 response strategy.

Mr Marape's declaration comes after health authorities in the country confirmed the first case of the Covid-19 coronavirus on Friday.

"We have now declared a nationwide state of emergency. I request with this announcement here that our nation gives greater support to this call," he said.

The slide occurred on Thursday at on the remote coast.

Office director Loti Yates said it came as a severe low hit the region, causing heavy downpours and extensive flooding.

Bridges, roads and villages had been washed away.

"There are communities that have lost homes and properties and the NDMO has been working with the Red Cross and other NGOs to access non-food items, such as shelter kits, garden, kitchen and hygiene kits to be delivered."

This was following their 1-1 draw against Lautoka FC last Saturday.

The Vanuatu based team will take on Solomon Islands club the Henderson Eels after forward Andre Batick was shown a red card and will be suspended.

The fans in Luganville came out in droves to the Luganville Soccer City Stadium to support the hometown Revivors and they will ride that wave of support against the Eels.

In the first match today, Fiji’s Lautoka will take on Papua New Guinea’s Lae City FC.

Line ups;

A number of big projects funded by the Chinese government were scheduled to get under way this year, including the construction of the new national stadium in Honiara.

The Deputy Chief of Mission for the Chinese Embassy in Papua New Guinea, Yao Ming, told the Solomon Star the coronavirus epidemic in China had set back preparations.