Thursday 15 October 2020
Controller of the National Pandemic Response David Manning has made a specific call to users of the Highlands Highway for heightened vigilance against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and strictly comply with prevention measures.
Mr Manning warns that given the heavy flow of people along the Highlands Highway, the virus can be transmitted easily if people do not adhere to distancing and hygiene measures.
“Every commuter and highway driver must adhere to the protocols as they move around the different parts of the Highlands region,” said Mr Manning.
The call by the National Pandemic Controller comes at a time when 10 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Goroka, Eastern Highlands bringing the province’s total case to 11.
Enga Province, as of yesterday, reported its first case of COVID-19.
As health care workers are conducting contact tracing and isolating positive cases to contain the virus, Controller Manning wants every citizen to take responsibility for their health by complying to the health measures.
There were no cases of COVID-19 reported in the last 24 hours but Mr Manning reiterated his earlier call for citizens to remain vigilant and not to be complacent.
To date, 26,690 people in PNG have been tested for coronavirus. Additional 302 samples are pending laboratory results.
There are 537 people who have recovered from COVID-19 while there are 34 active cases that are being isolated. The country’s death toll from COVID-19 remains at seven.
Meantime, 14 provinces in the country that have confirmed COVID-19 cases:
| Provinces | Confirmed cases |
| NCD | 336 |
| Western Province | 202 |
| EHP | 11 |
| Central | 7 |
| Morobe | 5 |
| West New Britain | 5 |
| East Sepik | 3 |
| Milne Bay | 2 |
| East New Britain | 2 |
| Southern Highlands | 1 |
| West Sepik | 1 |
| New Ireland | 1 |
| Enga | 1 |
| Autonomous Bougainville Region | 1 |
Globally, since the start of the outbreak, there are 38,727,726 confirmed cases and the death toll stands at 1,096,294.
There was an increase of 378, 912 confirmed cases in the last 24 hours.
In the Western Pacific region, a total of 12 countries/territories had confirmed cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total confirmed cases for the region to 668,006 cases and 14,519 deaths.
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