Sunday, 03rd May 2020

Papua New Guinea has eight confirmed cases of COVID-19, the last was about two weeks ago. Out of the 8 cases, 6 were mild and have fully recovered.

Two were moderate cases, admitted to hospital and recovered, out of which 1 case was repatriated. All our eight cases have turned out negative, including the three from the Western Province. These three and the woman from Eastern Highlands Province, have also tested negative in the second tests and are awaiting their third tests before they are cleared. We must not relax but remain vigilant. We are still seeing countries in other parts of the world as well as in our region reporting new cases.

So I appeal once again to you all to continue to adhere to the public health measures. It’s a challenge for our schools in many ways as they adhere to the new NORMAL. Teachers and school boards of management need help from the parents and community to ensure that children are safe.

Following is today’s global update on the COVID-19 pandemic. The global report comes from the World Health Organisation (WHO).

• Globally we have:

3,267,184 confirmed cases;

229,971 deaths of which 5,799 new.

• Western Pacific Region we have:

150, 403 confirmed cases;

6,166 deaths of which 39 are new.

By country the figures are as follows:

• Australia has 6,767 total confirmed cases and 93 deaths;
• Philippines has 8,772 confirmed cases and 579 deaths;
• Singapore has 17,1O1 confirmed cases and 16 deaths;
• New Zealand has 1,134 confirmed cases and 20 deaths;
• Guam has 142 confirmed cases and 5 deaths;
• French Polynesia has 58 confirmed cases and no deaths;
• Fiji has 18 confirmed cases and no deaths;
• North Mariana Islands has 14 confirmed cases and 2 deaths.

Indonesia has a total of 10,551 confirmed cases with 780 deaths.

Papua has 240 confirmed cases, an increase of 30 new infections in the last 24 hours. The death toll is still 6 and recoveries at 48.

For Papua New Guinea, a total of 125 samples pending results in Brisbane as of today.  Also, a total of 66 Papua New Guineans brought in since Thursday, April 30 are in quarantine for the next 14 days as per COVID-19 protocol.

I’d like to say thank you for all the work that is going on, especially in the provinces. Reports coming in show there are a lot of work going on in the provinces and regions.

The provincial plans on COVID-19 cover activities such as screening of people at ports of entry;  clinical services , which areas require the set up of isolation rooms or places, cough triage pathways and communication ; as in West New Britain, there is a set up of a billboard  at Hoskins Airport on COVID to make people aware of this new virus.

Other activities include training and sensitization for church and health workers, as undertaken  in Kavieng on April 27. Surveillance and testing of persons of interest is ongoing in various places in the country. As seen from update today, we’re still seeing countries in other parts of the world as well as in our region reporting new cases.

In conclusion, I appeal to every Papua New Guinean to continue to practice the Health Messages that we have been consistently emphasizing and that is to:

• Wash Your Hands Frequently;
• Cough into Your Elbow;
• Practise Safe Distancing;
• Avoid Crowds; and
• STAY HOME if you don’t have any reason to go out.

Thank you and God bless you all.