The National Control Centre  has released    three new COVID-19 death figures  in the last 24 hours leading up to  12 midday on Monday May 17, increasing the total number of deaths in the country to 139.

The three deaths were reported in the National Capital District, Western and Southern Highlands. Controller of the National Pandemic Response, David Manning, said  of the deaths, two were symptomatic and had existing medical conditions and were hospitalized, one of whom required a ventilator. They were aged 59, 70 and 74 years old.

In the same period a total of 136 new COVID-29 cases were reported, bringing the total number of cases to 14,341. The new cases were reported in 15 provinces, with New Ireland province recording the highest number with  65 cases.  This was followed by the National Capital District with 15 cases, Western Highlands 12, Jiwaka 9, East New Britain and Gulf 7 cases each, Milne Bay 6, Morobe 4, Enga 3, Southern Highlands 2;  Madang  2; East Sepik 1; Eastern Highlands, 1; Hela 1;  and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) ,1.

Mr Manning further confirmed that f the 136 cases, 113 were males and 23 females. Their ages range from seven to 78 years old. At the time of testing, 55 were showing symptoms of COVID-19 and 19 had comorbidities. Five of the recent cases are health workers. A total of 110,286 tests have been conducted thus far for COVID-19 nationwide. From this a total 14,341 were confirmed positive with 139 known deaths. Total recoveries to date is 11,282 with 920 cases active within the last 14-day period.

 All 22 provinces including the AROB have reported cases. A total of 12,971 people in PNG have received the first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. This includes 2,802 health workers and 10,169 essential workers. By province, the NCD has the highest number of people vaccinated with 7,215 followed by Morobe with 1,419. Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 163,703,318 including 548,225 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is at 3,393,395 including 9,944 new deaths in the last 24 hours ending Monday May 17.

(refer to COVID-19 statistics for Monday May 17, 2021)

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