Friday 5 June 2020
Parliament on Tuesday June 2, extended the Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) state of emergency for another 14 days, with 80 votes to 2.

PM James Marape
Prime Minister James Marape supported the extension of the State of Emergency, given the rising global cases and deaths of Covid-19.
In his statement to Parliament on June 2, Mr Marape highlighted the global situation of Covid-19 which stood at 6,365,473 confirmed cases, and 372,765 deaths.
“The statistics and global trend compels us to think that we mustn’t be complacent. We must always be on guard in ensuring that we protect our citizens from being exposed to someone who is Covid-19 infected and for that person not to pass on to someone else.
“That is why remaining vigilant has been our Government’s priority strategy. We remain vigilant and be defensive within the context of our own capacity we have in our country.”
As far as testing is concerned, Mr Marape said two kinds of tests are available for COVID-19 in the country : the viral tests (PCR) and antibody tests (RDT).
“We have been able to conduct 5000 PCR tests and 12000 rapid diagnostic tests. The difference is that a viral test tells you if you have a current infection, while an antibody test tells you if you had a previous infection.”
Mr Marape assured Members of Parliament that as a result of testings, there was no evidence of community transmission from the first Bulolo case and the one in East New Britain.
Mr Marape further paid tribute to mothers, children, clergymen and churches for fasting and praying so that Papua New Guinea could be able to stop the spread from the eight cases of Covid-19.
“Speaking on day 72 (since the beginning of our SOE operations) just because the statistics is at eight and there is no evidence of the actual COVID-19 transmission in communities, we are seated with sound minds and elements of complacency.
“Our state of the economy or state of our national health is not something we are proud of.”
However when commenting on the Parliamentary Permanent Committee on Emergency’s (PPCE)recommendation for an extension of two months for the state of emergency, Mr Marape said, PPCE is an independent committee and does not represent the views of the executive government.
The PPCE recommended for a two month extension of SOE due to PNG’s weak health system and is not well equipped to deal with an outbreak of Covid-19.
However Mr Marape has proposed a law, entitled Public Health Emergency Bill, that will be deployed during the existence of Covid-19 and other pandemics and diseases.
“This law will embrace how we will go to school, church, work and use of the transport regulations, the new normal of living with Covid-19 for the rest of our lives.”
The bill will be tabled in the next sitting of Parliament and Papua New Guinea could be the first country to pass such a law that will guide how citizens live with Covid-19.