Monday 24 August 2020
PAPUA New Guinea’s total confirmed COVID-19 cases remain at 401 with no new cases reported in the past 24 hours.
The National Pandemic Response Controller Mr David Manning. however said there are 1,552 samples for COVID-19 at the laboratories waiting to be tested and results to be made known.
NCD still records the highest number of confirmed cases.
Meanwhile, the National Department of Health is developing specific guidelines on how to manage COVID-19 in pregnant women.
This follows the confirmation of a 25-year-old pregnant woman with COVID-19 on Sunday. She was one of the 3 cases reported on that day.
In the meantime, eight people are currently in admission at the Rita Flynn Isolation Facility of which 6 are mild and 2 are moderate cases, while there are 6 inpatients; 3 are mild, 2 moderate and 1 severe, at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH).
At this stage, testing rates for COVID-19 in the country remain very low and provinces are being urged to improve.
“In NCD for instance, samples being collected and tested are coming from only six urban clinics and the Drive-Through clinic at the Taurama Aquatic Centre, led by St John Ambulance.
“I am sure if we get all clinics testing, we will get more cases. I once again call upon health workers in health facilities to swab for COVID-19.
“That is the only way we can be able to map out and appreciate the widespread of this virus in the communities and the country,.”
Mr Manning urged all citizens to make it their responsibility to live this Niupela Pasin to beat this virus..
“Today is Day 69 of the Niupela Pasin – a new way of living – that makes basic hygiene and safe distancing a part of PNG’s new culture.
“It means learning or living a new life where you consciously take actions and adopt behaviours that are in place to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19 or other infectious diseases.
“In case, we forget, these health measures in the Niupela Pasin are: wash hands often; cover your cough or cough into your bent elbow; don’t touch your face; avoid crowds; physical distance by 1.5 metres from the next person in shops and public places, wear mask in public places, shops and buildings; and disinfect all frequently touched surfaces such as door knobs, personal items such as laptops, computers, etc,” Mr Manning said.
Globally a total of 23,582,985 have been confirmed with COVID-19 and a death toll of 812,487. This is an increase of 23,210,230 million confirmed cases and 796,256 deaths in five months. Of this figure, 206,768 were new cases reported in the last 24 hours.
Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557: Email: ddkakas@gmail.com