Papua New Guinea recorded 298 new COVID-19 cases including two new deaths in the last 24 hours ending 12 midday on Tuesday May 18, increasing the total number of cases to 14,639.
The new cases were reported in 14 provinces. A total of 194 of the new cases are males and 100 are females, with ages ranging from 4 to 76 years old. Controller of the National Pandemic Response, David Manning said, of this number, 159 were symptomatic, 68 had comorbidities and six were hospitalized. Fifty-eight were contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases whilst 17 were health workers.
Males account for 9,300 of the country’s cumulative total COVID-19 cases to date whilst females numbered 5,190, with ages ranging from one to 93 years old. Among the 14,639 cases, 7,695 showed symptoms of COVID-19 including shortage of breath, sore throat, muscle ache, headache, fever and cough whilst 458 were hospitalized and 30 placed on ventilators. In the meantime, the two recent deaths were a male and a female, aged 64 and 70, and both deaths were recorded in the Eastern Highlands province. They were both hospitalized and one had an underlying medical condition.
Mr Manning, confirmed the death toll at 141. The National Capital District has recorded 72, which is the highest for the country followed by Eastern Highlands with 14. The Western Highlands Province has recorded 12 deaths.
A total of 13,608 people have recovered from COVID-19 whilst 890 cases are active within the last 21-day period. As of May 16 a total of 13,420 people have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The majority or 10,443 are essential workers whilst the rest, 2,977 are health workers. By province the NCD still has the highest number of people vaccinated with 7,215 followed by Morobe with 1,636. Sixteen provinces have rolled out their vaccination programs with the remaining six set to begin theirs as well.
The release of the latest COVID-19 statistics has prompted the Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning, to encourage the frontline workers, especially those in the health sector to receive their vaccines. “About ten per cent or 1,499 of the total COVID-19 cases to date are health workers. “This is a serious cause for concern. Health workers are in the front line of this fight against COVID-19 and they must be protected at all cost.
“ However, statistics again show that health workers again make up for about ten per cent of those vaccinated thus far. “It is optional but I am appealing to the health workers around the country to take the shot immediately. Protect yourself first so that you can then effectively defend your country from this unseen enemy,” Mr Manning said.
COVID-19 statistics for Tuesday May 18, 2021.
Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557 email: ddkakas@gmail.com
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COVID-19 JATF email: ddkakas.covid19media@gmail.com