Dr Daoni urges citizens to get vaccinated as Delta variant cases spread.

Wednesday 29 September 2021

The Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response, Dr Esorom Daoni is again appealing to  Papua New Guineans to get vaccinated, as  the new  Delta variant   cases of COVID-19   spread  across  the country .

In his weekly virtual  press briefing, Dr Daoni   said that  the  previous number of   the Delta variant   was 30 and detected in   the National Capital District  with 22 cases, Western province  7 and Madang with 1 case.

“Vaccines for us is very important. We need to vaccinate our people.”

He added, delta is fast transmitting among people and urged people to get vaccinated to prevent them from being hospitalised.

There has been an increase  to  7 percent from 3 percent of vaccinated people.

It is reported that the Delta variant cases  were detected since August 2021 with the new cases at 67.

Dr Daoni says the  cumulative total number  of Delta variant   now stands at 97.

The National Capital District has reported  23 DV cases, West Sepik 35; Central 4; Morobe 2;  Hela 1 and Milne Bay recording  2 cases.

Dr Daoni confirmed  that there has being ongoing transmission in August 2021 to the earlier weeks of September 2021.

“On the 17th of August 2021 the one delta case from Central province was an imported case from the Philippines.

“Central Province also began detecting Delta cases first and second week of September 2021.

“Morobe and Milne Bay  provinces began detecting cases 1st week of September, while the National Capital District  may have  experienced  a delta surge beginning in late August into September.”

Dr Daoni said from the data collected, it revealed that  of the  67 cases,  98 percent  of the cases are locally acquired transmissions

“The 67 cases are from 21 days ago which mean these Delta cases are still classified as Active cases.”

The cases were recorded in   Alotau (Milne Bay) with 2 cases; Lae (Morobe) 2; National Capital District 23; Vanimo (West Sepik) 35; Kairuku (Central) 3; ExxonMobil Plant site 1; and Oil Search Moro with 1 case..

Their ages range  from  18  to  50 years old.

Dr Daoni said, “our critical commodity is oxygen. If we don’t have enough oxygen, a lot more people will die.

“We have enough ventilators ,but  for the surge we would need  more funding to support the provinces.”

He added an  oxygen policy would be commissioned soon to enable sufficient supply  oxygen  is available in the country .

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