The Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response, David Manning, has called on citizens not to be complacent as PNG recorded only one confirmed COVID-19 case on Sunday June 13.

Controller Manning says citizens must be wary of the threat from COVID-19 despite the single case reported on Sunday. “The fact that we have recorded just a single case in the National Capital District today does not mean that the country is safe from COVID-19,” Mr Manning said.

The call by the controller comes as the country records just a single case in the last 24 hours, ending Sunday 13 June bringing the total number of cases to 16,728 including 165 known deaths. The latest case was in NCD where a 45-year-old female was reported positive. She was asymptomatic.

Mr Manning said the extent of the spread of COVID-19 in PNG can only be ascertained with more tests being done. In saying that Mr Manning has called on all citizens to voluntarily come forward for testing.

 He urged  citizens to  check with their provincial health authorities as to how and where they can be tested for COVID-19. “The only way to determine one’s health status and to avoid passing the virus to family members living with underlying medical conditions is to get tested.” The country’s COVID-19 cases now stands at 16,728 with 165 known deaths. All 22 provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases.

Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 176,407,046 including 372,079 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll stands at 3,810,462 including 10,023 deaths reported in the last 24 hours. To date a total of 41,297 people in Papua New Guinea have been vaccinated with the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. Health workers made up 6,571 of this number whilst the balance were essential workers.

(PNG COVID-19 statistics as at Sunday 13 June, 2021.)