Tuesday 10 November 2020
Over 50 healthcare workers from health facilities across the National Capital District (NCD) will receive additional training on conducting COVID-19 case investigation and proper collection of samples for laboratory testing.
The two-day training which begins tomorrow (Wednesday 11 November) will build the skills of participants in data collection using case investigation form.
There will be series of hands-on exercises on the swabbing process to boost the confidence of the health workers.
“While there is evidence of COVID-19 transmission in NCD, testing rates remain critically low and this is a big concern. As a result, the probability of unidentified cases remains high and the true number of cases in NCD remains unknown,” said the COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Controller Mr David Manning.
The training will be facilitated by a team from the National Department of Health, NCD Health and the World Health Organization.
“We continue to address gaps in the response to COVID-19 and I am optimistic that this additional training will enhance the skills and confidence of our health workers in collecting samples correctly and safely,” Mr Manning added.
Meanwhile, the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases is at 599, while the death toll remains at seven.
To date, a total of 29,466 people have been tested for coronavirus with additional 295 samples pending laboratory results.
There have been 586 people who have recovered from COVID-19 whilst there are six active cases that are being isolated.
Fifteen provinces (including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville) have confirmed COVID-19 cases:
| Provinces | Confirmed Cases |
| NCD | 346 |
| Western Province | 203 |
| Eastern Highlands | 13 |
| West New Britain | 10 |
| Central | 7 |
| Morobe | 5 |
| East Sepik | 3 |
| Milne Bay | 2 |
| East New Britain | 2 |
| Enga | 2 |
| New Ireland | 2 |
| West Sepik | 1 |
| Southern Highlands | 1 |
| AROB | 1 |
| Hela Province | 1 |
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