Thursday 27 May 2021
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise daily, the Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response, Mr David Manning, has cautioned essential workers including all health workers to ensure they remain protected at all times during the course of their duties.
Mr Manning says PNG’s health system is currently under stress as a result of the pandemic, adding, the country cannot afford to have its health workers testing positive in large numbers.
“Under no circumstances, no health worker must attend to suspected COVID-19 cases without wearing personal protection equipment,” cautioned Mr Manning.
He said health workers must also learn to properly wear the PPEs to avoid gaps and overlaps that may allow the virus to pass through.
The call by the Controller comes as the country records 225 cases in the last 24 hours, ending 12 midday on Thursday, May 27, increasing the total number of cases in PNG to 15,772.
Mr Manning also urged the health and frontline workers to be vaccinated. He said health workers are in the frontline and are exposed to the COVID-19 virus. He said the vaccine will give them that extra layer of protection so they must get the jab now.
He said statistics show that of the 28,677 people who have been vaccinated as of May 26, only 5,145 are health workers. The rest, he said, are essential workers.
The current statistics show that of the total 15,772 people who have contracted COVID-19 in PNG, a total of 1,533 are health care workers.
“This is unacceptable. The health care workers are central to our national pandemic response and must be protected,” Mr Manning said.
Of the 225 new COVID-19 cases, 28 of them are health care workers.
The cases were reported in 13 provinces with West New Britain reporting the highest with 170 cases. Western Highlands reported 20 cases, Morobe and Madang six each, New Ireland and National Capital District five each, Central four, Milne Bay, Enga and East New Britain two each whilst Eastern Highlands, Southern Highlands and Hela reported a single case each.
Among the new cases, 137 were males and 88 females, with ages from three to 68 years.
Mr Manning added that at the time of testing, 158 cases were experiencing symptoms of COVID-19.
The country’s COVID-19 cases now stand at 15,772 with 162 known deaths.
A total of 14,857 recoveries have been recorded whilst 753 cases remained active within the last 21 days.
To date, a total of 112, 995 people have been tested for COVID-19 in PNG. A total of 1,300 samples are pending laboratory results.
Meanwhile, a total of 28,677 people have been vaccinated as of 26 May.
All 22 provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases.
COVID-19 statistics for Thursday May 27, 2021.
Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 169,073,843 including 559,688 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is at 3,511,927 including 12,342 new deaths 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