Thursday 12 November 2020
Papua New Guinea has reported its 600th case of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in a 4-year old boy from Talasea District, West New Britain.
The child has no COVID-19 symptoms but was tested as he is a close contact of a previously identified case.
The rapid response team continues to trace and test contacts to prevent further spread of the virus.
“Today’s case highlights that COVID-19 affects everyone, regardless of age and gender and we all share the risk. I urge everyone who had been in contact with a COVID-19 case to get tested even if you do not have symptoms,” the Controller of the National Pandemic Response Mr David Manning said.
Mr Manning also reminded everyone to get tested for COVID-19 if they have fever, cough, sore throat, loss of taste or difficulty breathing.
“Protecting our family and friends from any harm is part of our caring Melanesian culture. Getting tested and knowing our COVID-19 status will ensure we do not spread the virus to our children and our elderly parents and grandparents,” Mr Manning said.
To date, PNG has tested 30,027 people for coronavirus. Additional 339 samples are pending laboratory results.
There have been 585 people who have recovered from COVID-19 whilst there are eight active cases that are being isolated. PNG has seven known deaths from COVID-19.
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 | 11 |
| 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 |
Globally, since the start of the outbreak, there have been 51,251,715 confirmed COVID-19 cases reported to WHO, with 1,270,930 deaths.
There was an increase of 490,478 new cases and 8,579 new deaths in the last 24 hours.
In the Western Pacific Region, there has been a total of 778,813 confirmed cases in the last 24 hours and 16,242 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