10,197 Covid-19 cases in PNG, virus now a national security threat

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

10,197 Covid-19 cases in PNG, virus now a national security threat

PORT MORESBY: As reported by PNG Cyber Monitor on Sunday (April 18, 2021) (https://pngcybermonitor.blogspot.com/2021/04/pngs-total-covid-19-cases-to-breach.html), Papua New Guinea (PNG)’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) infections breached the 10,000 mark on Tuesday with 245 new cases, raising the total to 10,197.

And Covid-19 has threatened national security by infecting 42 of the 167 Parliament staff, forcing sitting to be adjourned from Wednesday to Aug 10, 2021.

 

Here are the updates on the Covid-19 situation in PNG as reported by The National:

Risk to national security

April 22, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PARLIAMENT was yesterday forced to adjourn to avoid a national security threat raised in a letter to the Speaker Job Pomat by Covid-19 National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning.
Manning informed Pomat that 42 staff members of Parliament had recently tested positive for the Covid-19 which required immediate contact tracing and decontamination of the House chamber and offices.
“Of concern is the fact that a high number of positive cases are direct employees of chamber services, who have close interaction with our national leaders. This is a major threat to our national security,” Manning said.
Manning did not rule out the possibility that some MPs in chamber yesterday had positive results.
He urged those who already knew their status to follow set protocols.
“It is of grave concern that leaders knowing their Covid-19 status are putting other leaders at risk. If they are in there (chamber), it is unacceptable and reckless behaviour,” Manning said.
More than 70 MPs attended Parliament yesterday, well over the 50-maximum figure allowed for public gatherings.
Manning told The National that he had written to Pomat on Tuesday to inform him of the Covid-19 situation in parliament.
“Between April 13 and 19, a total of 167 swabs were taken from members of parliament, staff and associates. Alarmingly, 42 returned positive results and 125 were negative,” he said.
Parliament was adjourned to August 10. Its current session which started on Tuesday was expected to run for two weeks.
Pomat confirmed that 42 of the 167 employees of parliament tested positive for the Covid-19.
“A majority of the 42 are employed with the chamber services in direct contact with the whole lot of us, national leaders,” Pomat said.
“That is a very serious threat to us, the staff of parliament, our families, friends and relatives and the national security of this country.”

 

Covid-19 cases top 10,000

April 22, 2021The NationalMain Stories

PAPUA New Guinea’s Covid-19 cases has surpassed 10,000 prompting National Pandemic Response Controller and Police Comm David Manning to appeal to Papua New Guineans to treat the virus threat to life seriously and to strictly adhere to public health protocol measures in the New Normal or Niupela Pasin.
“Our battle with the surging Covid-19 outbreak is at a critical stage and I urge everyone to take the threat of the deadly virus seriously,” he added.
The death toll is at 91.
According to a media release, by the National Control Centre, a total of 7,364 people from the 9,952 positive cases had recovered from the Covid-19.
A total of 2,497 cases are active within the last 14 days.
To date, a total of 73,276 tests had been completed for the Covid-19 with 747 tests pending laboratory results.
The measures in the new normal which Comm Manning made reference to are:

· CLEAN hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based sanitiser;

· KEEP a physical distance of at least 1.5m from each other;

· AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth;

· GREET others with a smile, a nod or a simple hello, no handshakes, fist bumps or high fives;

· COUGH and sneeze in your bent elbow and not your hands;

· LIMIT social gathering and time spent in crowded places;

· WEAR a mask or face covering in all public places; and,

· CLEAN and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.