Monday 22 November 2021

“Please Don’t Take COVID-19 to your village!”

This is a plea from the Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom to those planning to go to their home villages for Christmas holidays.

Dr Daoni said COVID-19 is now affecting all provinces, but it is still mostly seen in urban areas and those villages and communities accessible to these places so everyone has the responsibility to ensure it is not spread to the rural areas where majority of the health facilities are not equipped to care for people sick with COVID-19.

“We now have evidence that vaccination does reduce one’s chance of contracting the virus, and if by a small chance that you do get it, the symptoms are mere like the common cold and are not deadly. Therefore I urge  you to get vaccinated,’’ he said.

“If you care for your loved ones, you will do this for their benefit as well as your own. People who are fully vaccinated also have a reduced chance of spreading COVID-19 to their loved ones and friends.

“I cannot say it any other way. The facts are there. Vaccines save lives so I am encouraging all holiday makers to ensure they get vaccinated.’’

Dr Daoni said it takes 2 weeks for the body to build an immune system after a person has  received the second dose of AstraZeneca COVID-19 or two weeks after getting a single dose of the Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine so those planning to go home for holidays must go and get vaccinated now and not wait until they are a few days before travelling.

The Deputy Controller has also said that the two years of experience in the pandemic has shown that the virus transmits faster during big gatherings and urges everyone this Christmas holiday season to take care.

“We had a spike in cases in March and April 2020, February to May 2021 and then another one in September to November, 2021 following the celebration of Independence,’’ he said.

“We now have evidence  that big gatherings do contribute to the spread of COVID-19 so take care during the festive season.’’

Dr Daoni has also highlighted the need for people to ensure they are wearing mask when they are in planes, PMVs, and other public transport this Christmas.

“The congested PMVs are the norm in many parts of the country especially during the holiday season so I am urging everyone to be responsible and ensure they are following the Niupela Pasin.

• Physical distance by standing 1.5 to 2 metres away from the next person when you are in big crowds,
• sanitize your hands if you cannot wash them with soap,
• cover your coughs or cough into your elbow and not into your hands (in case you have to shake hands with another person before you wash your hands) and
•  if you have symptoms of COVID-19 go for a test if you are near a health facility that does tests  for COVID-19 so you can get help quickly.’’

He urged  those going home  for Christmas  to have the responsibility to tell their people about COVID-19 so that they too will protect themselves from this virus that currently does not have a cure.

“Let’s all do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in our country. Health workers cannot do it alone. Many of them have contracted the virus while attending to patients and have died,” Dr Daoni added.