The Council of Ministers (COM) has approved that the current State of Emergency (SOE) for both COVID-19 and TC Harold which ends on Monday next week be extended for another 30 days.
The Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Minister of Internal Affairs, Ishmael Kalsakau, confirmed this to Daily Post yesterday.
The Minister of Lands, Norris Jack Kalmet, also confirmed the approval of the SOE extension.
COM made the decision following a proposal that was tabled by the Minister of Climate Change (MoCC), Bruno Lengkon.
Director of the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO), Abraham Nasak, conveyed via a statement that an extension for the SOE was requested as NDMO’s response to the current events around the country is ongoing.
He said the current SOE was imposed to allow the smooth operation of response towards TC Harold, Tanna volcanic ash fall and ongoing preventive measures of COVID-19.
The SOE was declared by the Head of State, Moses Obed Tallis, under the State of Emergency Regulation Order No.46 of 2020 in accordance with the Disaster Risk Management Act 23 of 2019, following the endorsement by the COM.