Sunday 20 December 2020
Controller of the National Pandemic Response, David Manning has called for more swab samples to be sent to laboratories for testing to determine the outbreak of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the country.
Controller Manning called on health facilities throughout the country to do more swabbing according to the testing strategy and send the samples to the laboratories for testing.
Mr Manning says all provinces must lift their performances in the collection of swab samples for further tests.
“Health workers involved in the collection of swab samples must learn to collect quality samples that will provide the desired results.”
Meanwhile, Mr Manning has also urged citizens to take responsibility for their personal health and get tested.
He says one does not have to be reminded by a health worker to get tested as this would mean saving your own life and that of your family, friends and community.
Meantime,, the country’s total positive cases to date stand at 761 and 9 deaths.
Sixteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows:
| Provinces | Cases |
| NCD | 361 |
| Western Province | 204 |
| West New Britain | 124 |
| Eastern Highlands | 13 |
| East new Britain | 13 |
| Western Highlands | 10 |
| Central | 9 |
| New Ireland | 8 |
| Morobe | 6 |
| East Sepik | 3 |
| Enga | 3 |
| Milne Bay | 2 |
| West Sepik | 2 |
| Southern H/lands | 1 |
| AROB | 1 |
| Hela Province | 1 |
| TOTAL | 761 |
Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 74,299,042, including 700,846 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is 1,669,982; of which 13,289 were reported in the last 24 hours.
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