Thursday 3 September 2020
Papua New Guinea has no COVID-19 case in the last 24 hours, says Controller of the National Pandemic Response, Mr David Manning.
He however said, to date, the country has 471 total confirmed cases with five deaths.
Meantime, there are 12 provinces with confirmed cases: they include, the National Capital District (284); Western Province (166); Central Province (6); Morobe (5); East New Britain (2); West New Britain (2); Eastern Highlands (1); West Sepik (1); Southern Highlands (1); Autonomous Region of Bougainville (1); New Ireland (1); and Milne Bay (1).
On Wednesday, 2 September, West New Britain reported its first two cases.
These two cases were swabbed on arrival at Hoskins Airport, the major airport for WNB Province. One of the cases is a 50-year old expatriate male and the other is a 20-year old female.
Of the 9 cases reported in NCD on Wednesday, there were eight males and one female. Six of these cases were asymptomatic and three had shown signs and symptoms at the time of testing.
In applauding efforts of provinces sending samples for testing, Mr Manning, said, “Let us enhance our testing so we know where the virus is so we can put in measures to stop it from spreading further.
: That is the best way to protect our people.
“I thank everyone, the front liners both in the provinces and in NCD, for your efforts. I urge the remaining provinces that have not been sending samples to cooperate.
“We all need to do what we are supposed to do to help save lives.’’
Mr Manning also noted that the number of provinces reporting Influenza-like illnesses (ILI) and Severe Acute Respiratory Illnesses (SARI) as well as swabbing these cases for COVID-19 is increasing – which is a good sign.
“Let us protect our family and community by maintaining basic hygiene, wear masks properly, wash hands regularly, maintain physical distancing or simply stay away from large crowds,” Mr Manning said.
Media contact: Chief Superintendent Dominic D. Kakas, BEM, DPS
COVID-19 Media & Public Information Joint Agency Task Force
Mobile: 75430557 :Email: ddkakas@gmail.com