Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning says COVID-19 tests done at Rita Flynn Courts in the National Capital District and other public health facilities throughout the country are free , and that no member of the public should be charged for it.

 

Mr Manning made this call following reports on social media that health workers at the Rita Flynn are charging K50 for COVID-19 tests. He  said that   this  was not true, adding the   reports  were  “fake” and further warned social media users not to misinform the public as there are penalties for spreading false information on social media.

“The Health Workers stationed at the testing site at Rita Flynn and other public health facilities around the country are duty bound to provide these services to the public at no cost. “Since the outbreak of COVID-19, health workers around the country have been doing their best to attend to all suspected cases who came forward for testing,” Mr Manning said.

He however  said despite being under strength, health workers in the NCD and around the country had stood tall attending to the latest surge in the cases. Mr Manning commended the efforts of the health workers, doctors and other medical professionals who have dedicated their lives in serving fellow citizens, and  called on every Papua New Guinean  to strictly follow the isolation strategy imposed to contain the latest surge in the COVID-19 cases.

Papua New Guineans  are further warned  to be wary of this virus  which   has claimed the lives of 60 people  so far, with  cases  increasing daily.

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