Delta surge in Papua New Guinea

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Delta surge in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: Papua New Guinea (PNG) is now grappling with a surge in the highly infectious and deadlier Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant, with cases tripling from 30 on Sept 1 to 97 on Sunday (Sept 26, 2021).

National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom said the Covid-19 death toll had also risen to 227 with 17 deaths last week (Sept 20 to 26).

Updates on the Covid-19 surge were published by The National:



Delta surge

September 30, 2021The NationalMain Stories

 Daoni Esorom

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE country is now grappling with a surge in the deadly Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant, with cases tripling from 30 on Sept 1, to 97 on Sunday.
National Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom said the Covid-19 death toll had also risen to 227, including 17 deaths last week (Sept 20 to 26).
The 30 new Delta cases were reported in the National Capital District (NCD), West Sepik, Central, Morobe, Hela and Milne Bay.
“As of Monday, 67 new cases of the Delta variant have been reported.
“NCD has 23 cases of the Delta variant, with West Sepik 35, Central 4, Morobe 2, Hela one and Milne Bay 2,” Esorom said.
“Data shows that there has been ongoing transmission from August to the early weeks of September.”
On Aug 17, there was one Delta case in Central which was imported from the Philippines.
“Central also began detecting Delta cases on first and second weeks of September.
“Morobe and Milne Bay began detecting cases in the first week of September.
“NCD is experiencing a Delta surge beginning in late August into September,” Dr Esorom said.
The hotspots for the Delta variant are Alotau, Lae, NCD, Vanimo, Kairuku, Exxon plant site and Oil Search Moro.
The age groups affected is those from age 31 to 40, followed by those over 50, 41 to 50, and 19 to 30.
The data suggests an in-country Delta transmission.
Dr Esorom said 18,381 people had recovered.
“We have a very good recovery rate – around 98 per cent,” he said.
During a 24-hour period on Monday, 118 new cases were reported.
He said surges had been recorded in Western, West Sepik and Eastern Highlands, with Morobe, Western Highlands, NCD and Enga also reporting a hike in cases.
“So the situation is very fluid,” Esorom said.
“It can change within days.
“That’s what we are seeing at the moment.”
West Sepik recorded 635 cases and eight deaths, with 584 recovered and 45 in isolation.
Western on Monday diagnosed 15 new cases but no deaths.
“Western since the beginning of the outbreak recorded 3,138 cases and 20 deaths. Around 2,800 people have recovered,” he said.
Eastern Highlands recorded 43 new cases over the 24-hour period on Monday.

Covid-19 deaths, surge prompt people to get vaccinated

September 30, 2021The NationalMain Stories

A SURGE in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases and deaths in Eastern Highlands has prompted a large number of people to turn up for vaccination at the Goroka Provincial Hospital.
Covid-19 vaccination assistant staffer at the centre Jeffery Majike said since the hike early this month, many people were coming in for jabs.
He said those people had not been serious about getting vaccinated, but since the surge from Sept 3, there seemed to be a change of mind.
“On Monday and Tuesday, 168 people came to get their jabs.
“We anticipate that more people will be coming before the end of the week,” Majike said.
He said individuals, families, partners, groups, businesses and organisations were turning up each day for jabs.
While numbers were not available immediately, Majike said “quite a number of them” had been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, Eastern Highlands Health Authority (EHPHA) chief executive officer Dr Joseph Apa said there was no other effective way of preventing infection apart from vaccination.
He said the health message was for people to practise the new normal.
“I am glad to see more people getting vaccination. It is good because this will eventually kill the virus and make Eastern Highlands Covid-19-free,” Dr Apa said.

Western imposes liquor ban to curb spread

September 30, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Silva Sika

WESTERN has imposed a 14-day liquor ban as part of measures to curb the surge of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant in the province.
North Fly Police Commander Chief Inspector Silva Sika, also the vice-chairman of the provincial liquor licencing commission and board, announced the ban last week.
It started on Sept 22 and will end on Oct 5. “This means that the sale and consumption of alcohol is restricted,” Chief Insp Sika said.
“There should be no sale of alcohol or any spirit for 14 days.
“Any licenced outlet which defies this instruction will have their licence cancelled by the provincial liquor licensing board.”
The liquor ban applies to bottle shops, canteens, stores, taverns, public bars in hotels and wholesales/dealers/retailers. It is imposed in accordance with the Western Province Liquor Licensing Commission Act 2007.
“Your cooperation and adherence is anticipated to laws and regulations that govern the sale and consumption of liquor in Western for the duration of the liquor ban.”

University leaders take Covid-19 recovery course

September 30, 2021The NationalNational

UNIVERSITY leaders are taking part in a short course designed to help them consider their strategies and priorities in the Coronavirus (Covid-19) recovery context.
The Australia Awards university leadership short course began at the Divine Word University in Madang last week.
The Australian High Commission, in a statement on Facebook, said the short course had been delivered through a range of face-to-face and online activities over the past six months.
Participants will next month virtually attend the annual three-day Australasian tertiary education management conference in Brisbane, Australia.
“There is no better time than during a pandemic to work together with local and international colleagues to share and enhance our knowledge,” Deputy High Commissioner, Paul Lehmann said.
“Other universities have already been through the challenges Papua New Guinea and Australia institutions are now facing and we can learn from their experiences.”

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