215 new cases of COVID-19 reported : PNG total at 3,574

News

Sunday 21 March 2021

Papua New Guinea reported a total of 215 new cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Sunday, March 21, raising the total national confirmed infections  to 3,574.

The death toll remained at 36.

The new cases were recorded in   13 provinces, including Gulf Province which reported its first case.

Controller of the National Pandemic Response and Commissioner of Police,, David Manning said,  of the new cases, the National Capital District reported the highest number  with  53 cases.

The others were Western  81; West Sepik  17; Eastern Highlands  8; Morobe  8; East New Britain  19; Madang   2; New Ireland  7; East Sepik  6; Central  11; Southern Highlands 1; Milne Bay  1; and Gulf   1.

This now makes 20 out of the 22 provinces in the country reporting confirmed cases of COVID-19 so far, including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.

The cumulative figures  are as follows:

  • NCD – 1650;
  • Western – 495;
  • West Sepik – 345;
  • West New Britain – 196;
  • Eastern Highlands – 162;
  • Morobe – 140;
  • East New Britain – 103;
  • Western Highlands – 100;
  • Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 59;
  • Madang – 59;
  • Enga – 49;
  • New Ireland – 45;
  • Chimbu – 31;
  • East Sepik – 35;
  • Central – 37;
  • Jiwaka – 20;
  • Southern Highlands – 17;
  • Milne Bay – 11; and
  • Gulf – 1.

Mr Manning added that in addition to the new cases in the country, there were also five exported cases identified in Australia – three were in a hotel quarantine in Cairns, Queensland.

These  persons departed from Lae (1) in Morobe, Port Moresby (1) in NCD and Lihir (1) in New Ireland.

The other two exported cases were identified in hotel quarantine in Brisbane, Queensland. Of these two cases, one departed from Lae and the other departed from Port Moresby.

“The number of cases being seen in NCD is very high. As of today, it reported 46.29 per cent of the total number of cases in the country which is taking a toll on the health system.”

Mr  Manning has  warned  all provinces through their provincial administrations and Provincial Health Authorities to work together and ensure the situation in the provinces do not go out of hand.

“There was a lot of work done in planning last year. We expect those provincial response plans to be reviewed if need be and be put into implementation modes as quickly as possible to avert catastrophes.

“The new wave of the pandemic is more serious than the first wave,” Mr Manning said.

He also urged everyone in the country to continue to adhere to the health measures in the “Niupela Pasin”, saying, “while we do not have a cure for COVID-19, the old adage ‘Prevention is Better than Cure’ remains our best bet against COVID-19.

“Wash your hands frequently; cover your cough or cough into your elbow; avoid crowds; and physical distance by 1.5m to 2 metres.

“You can be nice to someone by just smiling, waving and nodding at them in greeting but you do not have to hug or shake hands with them,” Mr Manning.

Meanwhile, the global statistics has shown that there is now a total of 123,479,739 total confirmed cases around the world and 2,721,501 deaths since the outbreak.

 

Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557 email: ddkakas@gmail.com
Police email:                    ddkakas.policemedia@gmail.com
COVID-19 JATF email:    ddkakas.covid19media@gmail.com

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