Covid-19 bodies piling up in Papua New Guinea
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Covid-19 bodies piling up in Papua New Guinea
PORT MORESBY: Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies are piling up at the
Port Moresby General Hospital mortuary which is filled to capacity.
As Covid-19 and its Delta variant begin to wreak havoc
in Papua New Guinea (PNG), a new Delta variant, touted to be 10 per cent more
infectious, is being tracked by in the UK.
Businness Insider reported on
Friday that scientists worldwide are closely tracking a descendant of the
highly infectious Delta variant called AY.4.2 which had infected more people
recently.
PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news updates on the Covid-19 situation in PNG as published by The National:
Bodies piling
up at PMGH
October 21, 2021The NationalMain Stories
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
and LULU MARK
DOZENS of Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies are piling up at the Port
Moresby General Hospital (PMGH)’s mortuary which is filled to capacity.
As Covid-19 and its Delta variant start to wreak havoc in Papua New Guinea
(PNG), a new Delta variant, touted to be 10 per cent more infectious, is being
tracked in the UK.
Business Insider reported on Friday that scientists worldwide are closely
tracking a descendant of the highly infectious Delta variant that is spreading
in the UK.
England’s public-health authority said in a report that it was monitoring a
subtype of the Delta variant called AY.4.2 which had infected more people
recently (see 2 reports below).
And, as the growing threat of infections and deaths rise in PNG, employers and
Government institutions are beginning to face reality with mandatory
vaccinations being considered and implemented.
The National and Supreme Courts in Waigani are already in a week-long partial
lockdown from Tuesday and all court staff are now required to get vaccinated
for Covid-19.
The Lands and Physical Planning Department will only allow people in to be
served after producing their vaccination card or Covid-19 negative test
results.
Last week Wednesday, the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) announced
plans to enforce a “no jab, no job” policy, requiring employees to be
vaccinated by Nov 1, or be taken off the payroll.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the management decision was based on
Occupational Health and Safety requirements and that the NCDC board would be
meeting to discuss the matter.
With the highly infectious and deadlier Delta surging fast, National Pandemic
Response Controller David Manning is pushing all provincial health authorities
for a higher vaccination rate, setting a target to have 1.9 million people
vaccinated by end of this year – about 10 weeks from now.
It was an extremely grim scene at the mortuary for the country’s biggest
hospital as blue flies flock seven body bags at the layout room because there
was no more space to accommodate the bodies.
Hospital medical services director Dr Kone Sobi and mortuary officer-in-charge
Albert Tole said: “It is full not only with bodies of Covid-19 victims but also
unclaimed bodies dating back to March.
Reporters at the entrance saw a body brought in by a St John Ambulance.
The man is believed to have died of Covid-19.
His wife, Norah Wara, lamented: “I have lost a partner of more than 20 years.
“He was a loving husband and soldier committed to his family and country.”
Get jabbed,
follow measures
October 21, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
TO all the
unvaccinated and those who continue to treat the Coronavirus public health
threat lightly, see the grim scene at the Port Moresby General Hospital
mortuary yesterday.
Get yourself vaccinated immediately at the following:
- BOUGAINVILLE – North: Buka
Hospital; Central: Arawa Hospital; and, South: Buin health centre;
- MANUS – Manus Hospital;
- CENTRAL – Konedobu PHA;
Kwikila health centre; Porebada health centre; Bereina health centre; and,
Kupiano health centre;
- EAST NEW BRITAIN – Rabaul:
Nonga; Kokopo: Butuwin Subcentre; Gazelle: Kerevat health centre; and,
Pomio-Aona Subcentre;
- EAST SEPIK – Ambunti health
centre; Angoram health centre; Maprik health centre; Kubalia health
centre; Moem Urban Clinic; Wewak Boram Hospital; Kunjigini health centre;
and, Dreikikir health centre;
- EASTERN HIGHLANDS – Asaro
health centre; Goroka Base Hospital; Sigerehe health centre; Hanganofi
health centre; Lufa health centre; Okapa health centre; Kainantu District
Hospital; SIL Clinic; and, Kassam health centre;
- ENGA – Wabag General
Hospital (Wabag); Mabisanda District Hospital (Wapenamanda); Yampu health
centre (Kompiam-Ambum); Laigam District Hospital (Lagaip-Porgera); Porgera
Urban Clinic (Lagaip-Porgera District); Kandep District Hospital (Kandep
District); and, Kompiam District Hospital (Kompiam-Ambum);
- GULF – Bema HSC; Hawabango
HSC; Kanabea health centre; Malalaua health centre; Terapo HSC; Lese Oalai
Community health post; Kikori Hospital; Baimuru health centre; Kapuna
health centre; Kamina HSC; and, Ihu health centre;
- HELA – Komo health centre;
Koroba District Hospital; Margarima District Hospital; and, Hela
Provincial Hospital;
- JIWAKA – Kudjip Hospital;
Banz Subcentre; Minj health centre; Mt Aue Subcentre; Tabibuga health
centre; Koinambe health centre; Tsendiap Subcentre; Kol health centre; and
Amblua Subcentre;
- MADANG – Modilon Hospital;
Gaubin Rural Hospital; Malala health centre; Bogia health centre; Aiome
health centre; Walium health centre; Gusap health centre; Bawak health
centre; Saidor health centre; and, Mugil health centre;
- MOROBE – Angau Hospital;
Buimo Clinic; Bulolo District Hospital; Mutzing health centre; Wampar
health centre; Braun health centre; Wasu health centre; and, Boana health
centre;
- NCD – Rita Flynn Netball
Courts; National Football Stadium; Vision City car park; and, Stop &
Shop Waigani Central;
- NORTHERN – Popondetta
Hospital; and, Oro Kokoda health centre;
- MILNE BAY – Alotau General
Hospital;
- NEW IRELAND – Namatanai
health centre; Kavieng Hospital; Simberi Subcentre; and, Lihir Mining
Clinic;
- CHIMBU – Chuave health
centre; Gumine health centre; Gembogl health centre; Kilau health centre;
Negabo Subcentre; Nomane Subcentre; Sigimaru-Karimui health centre; Bomai
Subcentre; Haia Subcentre; Kerowagi health centre; Mingende health centre;
Koge health centre; Kundiawa Hospital; and SJNMPH/Kundiawa Urban Clinic;
- SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS – Mendi
Hospital; Ialibu District Hospital; Nipa Regional Hospital; Pimaga
Regional Hospital; Pokorapul health centre; Kagua health centre; and Erave
health centre;
- WNB – Kandrian health
centre; Talasea-Kimbe Hospital; Mosa NBPOL; and Hagy NBPOL;
- WEST SEPIK – Raihu Rural
Hospital; Lumi health centre; Anguganak health centre; Nuku health centre;
Dapu health centre; Olbrum health centre; Oksapmin health centre;
Telefomin health centre; Vanimo Urban Clinic; Edwaki health centre; Amanab
health centre; Green River health centre; Sandaun Hospital; and, Tumolbi
health centre;
- WESTERN HIGHLANDS – Mt Hagen
General Hospital; Tambul health centre; Kotna health centre; Tinsley
District Hospital; Pabrabuk health centre; Togoba health centre; and,
Bukapena Health Centre; and,
- WESTERN – Daru Urban Clinic;
Balimo Urban Clinic; Kiunga Catholic Urban Clinic; Kiunga Govt Urban
Clinic; Tabubil Hospital Urban Clinic; and, Ok Tedi mining site clinic.
mortuary.
Expect more
deaths from Covid-19, say officials
October 21, 2021The
NationalNational
EXPECT more people to die of the
Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the coming weeks in Port Moresby and around the
country, three officials have warned.
Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi,
National Capital District Health Authority chief executive officer Dr Steven
Yennie and St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matt Cannon in a joint
statement issued the grim warning when announcing the death of a patient at the
Nightingale Covid-19 centre in Taurama, Port Moresby yesterday.
It was the first death recorded at the Taurama centre since it was used as a
Covid-19 emergency health facility in April.
The patient was under the care of specialist doctors and senior nurses from the
PMGH and St John after being admitted with mild Covid-19 symptoms which
worsened.
After extensive medical care from specialised doctors and with all options
exhausted, the patient passed away.
“The doctors, nurses, ambulance professionals and support staff are doing their
very best to keep people alive. But this new Delta variant is very serious,”
they said.
“It is more easily transmitted between people and makes people very sick.
“Without more vaccinations, we need to prepare for many more funerals.”
“If you contract the Covid-19 after being fully vaccinated, it is the greatest way to protect yourself from death.”
Hospital’s
mortuary filled beyond capacity
October 21, 2021The
NationalNational
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA and LULU MARK
PORT Moresby General Hospital medical services director Dr Kone Sobi says the
mortuary is filled beyond capacity with 300 bodies of which 50 are Coronavirus
(Covid-19) victims.
“In two weeks, 70 deaths were registered, a death toll never seen before in the
hospital. The unclaimed bodies are clogging up the mortuary space,” he added.
“We are in urgent need of at least two containers to store the bodies. Each
container can store up to 30 bodies and the mortuary capacity is only 130
bodies,” he said.
Sobi said the hospital was in a crisis with an average of five to six Covid-19
deaths daily during the current spike in infections.
“The morgue capacity issue is ongoing but if you throw in the burden brought
upon us by Covid-19, it has gone worse. The number of deaths we are seeing now
is alarming. Just Sunday alone, in the night, we had 16 dead on arrival.
“That’s a huge number, unless there is a nasty motor vehicle accident outside
of the city, I just cannot imagine people dying like that.
“These were the ones coming to the hospital. But there were more deaths out in
the communities that went unreported.
“Over the last two weeks, we have close to 70 deaths and the number is growing.
That is an average of five and six Covid-19 deaths daily,” he lamented.
Officer-in-charge of mortuary Albert Tole said the highest number of bodies
received in a day was 24 and lowest 10 in the current surge in Covid-19 surge.
Yesterday afternoon, eight bodies were placed at the layout area waiting for
space to be created for the bodies to be put into the freezers as the St John
Ambulance brought in another wrapped in a black bag.
“We would have 10 to 13 bodies in the layout area, including those that arrived
the previous day. Covid-19 bodies are wrapped in orange bags and put together
with other bodies,” Tole said.
Sobi said a container freezer could hold up to only 30 bodies and with more
deaths expected, one container would not be enough.
Thirteen
Covid-19 deaths bring country’s toll to 325
October 21, 2021The
NationalNational
THIRTEEN more people died of the
Coronavirus (Covid-19) on Tuesday, taking the national total to 325, according
to the National Control Centre (NCC).
Deputy National Pandemic Response Controller Dr Esrom Daoni said the deaths
were reported in Western Highlands (seven), National Capital District (two) and
Jiwaka (four). Of the 325 who died, 101 were in Port Moresby, 50 in Eastern
Highlands and 33 in Western Highlands.
There were also 413 new cases reported in NCD, Morobe, East New Britain,
Western Highlands, New Ireland, Bougainville, Enga, Central, Simbu, East Sepik,
Southern Highlands, Jiwaka and Gulf.
NCD reported 163 new cases, Morobe 101 and Enga with 30, Dr Daoni said.
He said Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands and Enga had implemented their own
lockdown measures.
The Covid-19 Delta variant cases remains at 191 including 73 in NCD and 56 in West
Sepik.
“I want to stress that people must follow the Niupla Pasin and continue to
practice measures set in place by the Controller,” he said.
“This is not the time to be complacent.
“You can see that our hospital morgues are filling up.
“So get vaccinated.”
Scientists tracking
new variant
LONDON: Scientists
worldwide are closely tracking a descendant of the highly infectious Delta
variant that is spreading in the UK.
England’s public-health authority said in a report last Friday (local time)
that it was monitoring a subtype of the Delta variant called “AY.4.2”, which
had infected more people recently.
Francois Balloux, the director at the University College London Genetics
Institute, tweeted last Saturday that data about AY.4.2 suggested that it could
be 10 per cent more transmissible than the most common Delta variant in the UK,
called “AY.4”.
“As such, it feels worthwhile keeping an eye on it,” he said.
As of Sept 27, six per cent of UK sequenced tests were AY.4.2, public health
England said in its report last Friday, adding that estimates could be
imprecise because it was difficult to sequence the variant’s mutations.
Former commissioner of food and drug administration Dr Scott Gottlieb said the
new variant was not an “immediate cause for concern”, but he called for “urgent
research” to work out whether it was more infectious or able to avoid the
body’s immune response.
“We should work to more quickly characterise these and other new variants,” he
said.
“We have the tools.”
Gottlieb said a coordinated, global response was required.
Dr Jeffrey Barrett, a medical genomics group leader at the Wellcome Trust
Sanger Institute, tweeted on Tuesday that AY.4.2 was the only Delta descendant
that was steadily increasing, which suggested a “consistent advantage” over
Delta.
Barrett cautioned that AY.4.2 was replacing Delta at a much slower rate than
Delta had replaced the formerly dominant Alpha variant.
The Delta variant is estimated to be about 60 per cent more infectious than
Alpha.
The same pattern for AY.4.2 had yet been seen in other countries.
Balloux said in a statement on Tuesday that the variant was “rare” outside of
the UK, with only three cases detected in the US so far.
“In Denmark, the other country that besides the UK has excellent genomic
surveillance in place, it reached a two per cent frequency but has gone down
since,” he said.
The virus that causes the Coronavirus (Covid-19) gets about two new mutations
per month and there are now 56 Delta descendants, showed Scripps Research’s
Outbreak.info, which included data from the centres for disease control and
prevention.
The AY.4.2 has two new mutations in the part of the virus that attaches to
human cells, which is called the spike protein. It is not yet clear how these
mutations could affect the virus’ behaviour. – Business Insider
WHO: India delaying
Covid doses
NEW DELHI: India has
delayed committing supplies of vaccine to the Covax global sharing effort, two
sources told Reuters on Tuesday, a day after one of its key backers, the World
Health Organisation (WHO), said the agency could not “cut corners” to approve a
domestically developed vaccine.
The world’s biggest vaccine maker resumed exports of the Coronavirus (Covid-19)
doses this month for the first time since April.
It sent about four million to countries such as neighbouring Bangladesh and
Iran, but none to Covax.
Delayed supplies to Covax could disrupt inoculation in many African nations
that rely on it for vaccines.
On Monday, in the run-up to an Oct 26 meeting on Covaxin, India’s first
domestically developed Covid-19 vaccine, the WHO said it could not “cut
corners” in the approval decision. One of the sources said it was “frustrating”
that India had yet to confirm any supply to Covax, despite a promise by the
health minister last month to meet the commitment to Covax and others during
the quarter to December.
The sources, who have been briefed on the export talks, declined to be
identified as they were not authorised to speak on the subject.
“We are still waiting for confirmation on when and how many doses we can expect
when exports do resume, and are not aware of any specific delay,” Covax co-lead
Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation, said in an e-mail.
“Indian vaccines have a powerful role to play” in ending the pandemic, it
added.
India’s health ministry, the WHO and the Serum Institute of India, which is the
world’s biggest maker of vaccines, did not respond to requests for comment. –
Reuters
October 21, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
STAGING protests are banned nationwide, says National Pandemic Response
Controller David Manning.
Manning and Defence Force deputy chief, Commodore Philip Polewara, warned
during a joint media conference yesterday in Port Moresby that those planning
to stage protests would be dealt with.
They condemned the plan by a group in Port Moresby, linked to the disciplined
forces to stage a march in protest against the death of a soldier who they
claimed had been vaccinated, as “ridiculous and childish nonsense by those who
take pleasure in peddling fake news”.
Manning said: “I want those who are peddling lies to take a good look at
themselves.
“Their lies will cost lives.
“Social media should not be used to push personal agendas, nor should it be
used to cause panic in PNG.
“They have taken measures to discredit what Government is doing.
“Hundreds of people are dying of the Covid-19.
“Everyone in the country knows someone who has died of the Covid-19.”
Manning said the planned protest by a group in Port Moresby was not approved
and would not involve any members of the constabulary or the military.
“We have been receiving vaccines in this country for decades.
“Why are people questioning the vaccines (now)?” Manning added.
Cmdr Polewara said: “We are affected like the rest of the country and we are
doing our bit to ensure our members are safe.
“Our soldiers are not aware of any protest and will not participate in any.”
Manning urged social media users to be truthful on what they post and shared by
their friends.
“Those who want to disrupt our country use social media to (promote) their
agendas,” Manning said.
“It is not the business of the disciplined forces to be part of any form of
protest that will affect national security.”
Doctor
recommends testing of children too
October 21, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
By GLORIA BAUAI
A DOCTOR has recommended that children be also included in contact
tracing for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) as they can be carriers of the virus.
Pacific International Hospital chief executive officer Dr Amyna Sultan said
children would have the Covid-19 although they would not be severely infected.
She explained that this was because their immunity was developing and adapting.
But they still can pass the virus on to those who are more vulnerable such
those with comorbidities or the elderly living around them.
“No one is immune, so all who come in contact with an infected person must be
tested to determine the extent of the spread,” she said.
The National had asked for her views on whether students or teachers infected
with the Covid-19 should be tested.
Morobe education programme adviser Keith Tangui confirmed that teachers in the
province had contracted the virus, with two dead.
Tangui said teachers had been told to go for Covid-19 testing at the Sir
Ignatius Kilagi stadium or the nearest health centre.
Madang given
K1.7mil
October 21, 2021The
NationalMain Stories
By LULU MARK
THE Madang health authority was given K1.7 million for the Coronavirus
(Covid-19) response, an official says.
Acting public health director Dr Martin Damien told The National yesterday
that the funds received by the authority had been acquitted.
He said the money was used under five cluster programmes of the Covid-19
response, which were;
- SURVEILLANCE and emergency
response;
- CLINICAL and health care
services;
- INFECTION prevention and
control;
- POINT of entry; and,
- RISK communication and
community engagement.
Dr Damien said the expenditure
covered allowances, salaries for casuals/volunteers, stationery, small medical
equipment and accessories, transport and fuel support, training and
infrastructure maintenance.
“Financial management processes are strictly followed before further funds are
released to PHA,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Damien said the province was seeing an increase in the number of
Covid-19 cases being registered.
“Our admitted cases have increased to 27,” he said.
“The 12-bed isolation is full and overflowing to the outpatient and emergency
department.
“There are 15 more patients awaiting bed spaces.”
Dr Damien said two more deaths were recorded (one yesterday and another on
Tuesday) which brought the total number of Covid-19 deaths in this surge to 10
as of yesterday.
He urged the people in Madang to visit the main health facilities in the
districts to receive the vaccine as the province did not have the capacity to
deal with a big surge.
Rapa urging
councillors to educate people to get vaccinated
October 21, 2021The NationalMain Stories
By ELIAS LARI
Mt Hagen rural local level government (LLG) president Wai Rapa is urging
his 42 ward councillors to educate their people to be vaccinated.
Rapa said he received his vaccination and ward councillors needed to start
doing awareness in their wards so people could have a positive attitude towards
the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccines.
He said the virus was a killer and people needed protection and at this stage
vaccination was the only answer.
“Everyone comes from a community and there are leaders there that can help to
educate them,” he said.
Rapa said some were seen dying in Mt Hagen and others infected were “very
weak”.
“The Delta virus is more serious and deadly and it is claiming so many lives,
therefore I’m appealing to my councillors to start taking the lead,” he said.
“Many people are believing in social media which is delivering a very wrong and
bad impression and false information about the vaccine. It is very funny to see
people trying to take over the position of a scientist or a medical doctor to
condemn the vaccine.
“Some are even thinking that this will lead to 666 and I’m questioning myself
why some ignorant people are going around spreading lies and brainwashing
others.”
Rapa said there was a group of scientists in Papua New Guinea that was against
the vaccine but this group could not build a car or an airplane or even the
Covid-19 vaccine.
“PNG seems to have so many people with different ideas but they cannot do
anything but good at talking,” he said.
“I want my councillors to start taking the lead to encourage our people to be
vaccinated.”
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