Lockdown or no lockdown for NCD?

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

NCD Governor Powes Parkop ... outright no to NCD lockdown

Lockdown or no lockdown for NCD?

PORT MORESBY: Legally speaking, only the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic Controller DavidManning, who is also the Commissioner of Police, can decide whether to declare a lockdown for a town, city or state.

But National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop has chosen to make a public stand: “No NCD lockdown”.

It is debatable whether it is morally right to equate public health with economic interests, as what is being argued by Parkop.

And Parkop has a valid point: Lockdown inflicts equal misery and suffering on the people and country.

So, the win win situation is not to lockdown NCD but to ensure that everyone adheres strictly to public Covid-19 prevention protocols to check or prevent the spread of the virus.

Read on for Parkop’s arguments for his outright reject of a second lockdown in NCD as reported by The National:

 

 

 

 

Parkop: No NCD lockdown

February 26, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MARK
GOVERNOR Powes Parkop says there will be no lockdown in the National Capital District (NCD) despite a second spike in Covid-19 cases.
“We surely cannot afford to lockdown NCD again because the economy of the country is in a precarious position,” he stressed firmly amid rumours being spread of a second lockdown, especially on social media.
Parkop said: “As the Governor of our capital city, I am not going to entertain, discuss or even consider a second lockdown.
“The Covid-19 pandemic and the economic downturn are two equally compelling crises challenging the country. But the impact of an economic meltdown would be more severe than the impact of Covid-19 in Papua New Guinea.”
He said he did not want to see more people getting unemployed or going into part-time employment.
“We are not going to and I will not support any plans or suggestions to further restrict or lock down the city that will severely affect the functioning, normalcy and ability of the businesses to be carried out daily.
“(The economy) has suffered severely since March 2020 and it’s just recovering.
“We need the economy to start growing again. We need to stimulate the economy.
“Many of our young people who (completed) school last year are seeking employment which we must create for them.
“Many who have been laid off or gone into part (time jobs) are trying to get into small-to-medium enterprises.
“A lockdown will surely strain the economy further and therefore sufferings for the people. I don’t want to imagine the consequences of an economic meltdown in our city and country.
“This is why I am adamant that there won’t be any restrictions or lockdown.
“All we have to do, and what I want to encourage, is for all of us to adhere to Covid-19 prevention protocols so that everything will remain open and we proceed with reviving our country’s economy.”

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