The Solomon Islands' Ministry of Health has put a stop to gatherings of more than 10 people as it continues the fight against Covid-19.

This comes as the Health Minister Culwick Togamana said the capital Honiara was facing a second wave of coronavirus.

He has announced people planning for weddings and church services need to work with the National Health Emergency Operation Centre.

Dr Togamana said once all infection, prevention and control measures are in place, the Centre may issue approval to proceed.

He also urged those wanting to travel to and from Honiara to defer their travel plans unless it was really necessary.

The opposition leader Mathew Wale has raised concerns, saying the country needs to know if there is a variant in circulation, amid reports that some people are being re-infected.

Mr Wale said the country needs to be made aware of the government's response plans if there is a second wave.

He claimed the government was unprepared for the first wave, which hit hardest through the first two months of this year.

As of Wednesday, in data supplied by the World Health Organisation, Solomon Islands had had 12,437 cases of Covid-19, with 139 confirmed deaths.

Nearly 400,000 vaccine doses had been administered in the Solomons.