Delta surging fast in Papua New Guinea

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Delta surging fast in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: The highly infectious and deadlier Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant infection is surging fast – up 94 cases from 97 on Sept 26, 2021 to 191 on Sunday Oct 17, 2021 (three weeks).
In Madang, 49 new Delta cases were reported on Sunday (Oct 17, 2021).
And National Pandemic Controller David Manning said the Government would push for a higher vaccination rate as it had set a target to have 1.9 million people vaccinated by end of 2021 – that is about 10 weeks from now.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below several news updates on the Covid-19 situation as published by The National: 

Delta surging fast

October 19, 2021The NationalMain Stories

People registering to get vaccinated outside the Vision City Mega Mall in Port Moresby. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA and LULU MARK
THE highly infectious and deadlier Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant infection is surging fast – up 94 cases from 97 on Sept 26 to 191 on Sunday (three weeks).
In Madang, 49 new Delta cases were reported on Sunday.
And National Pandemic Controller David Manning said the Government would push for a higher vaccination rate as it had set a target to have 1.9 million people vaccinated by end of 2021 – that is about 10 weeks from now.
“It is a tall order for all provinces to step up the drive to meet the vaccination target. They have been given a set target,” he added.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Jelta Wong said Papua New Guinea was expecting an increase in Delta.
Manning told The National from the time the vaccines first arrived in PNG in April, the vaccination percentage rose from 0.1 per cent to 9.8 per cent in seven months with a total of 290,513 people vaccinated.
A total of 183,856 people have received one dose of the vaccine – AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Johnson and Johnson.
“For women, 68,732 have received their first dose of the vaccine,” he said, adding tha t a total of 106,657 had been fully vaccinated (two doses).”
Manning said the age group that had really stepped up in taking the vaccinations were aged 25 to 49 (74,806 men and 44,591 women).
“All provincial health authorities must work on their vaccination rollout programme.
“The National Control Centre (NCC) does not need to tell the authorities what to do.
“They are on the ground and they are aware of what is needed for their vaccination rollout.
“All we can do is to provide support.
“Send to us what is planned to be carried out to boost the vaccination rate and then we can come with support.
“Each province through its provincial controller and health authority have been given targets depending on their size, geography and accessibility.”
Manning said: “Some provinces have higher rural population but we have set a target.
“If a province achieves above their target, it would be a great.
“All 22 provinces need to sit with us to come up with ways we can assist each other on the vaccination rollout programmes.
Three governors (from West Sepik, Jiwaka and Gulf) have signed a tripartite agreement with us for their programmes.
“When you talk about ‘herd immunity’ we still have a long way to go.
We would like to see at least 80 per cent of the population vaccinated before 2022 ends.”
The latest vaccination figures released on Friday for the 10 high risk provinces are Eastern Highlands (146,980), Western (61,786), Western Highlands (90,838), West Sepik (64,889), Morobe (189,992), Chimbu (76,963), Enga (98,321), Hela (62,028), Jiwaka (70,874) and Southern Highlands (133,846) . All have yet to achieve their target.
Southern Highlands registered only one per cent of vaccination with only 1,287 fully vaccinated out of 133,846 people eligible for vaccination.

Minister: 49 more Delta cases recorded nationwide

October 19, 2021The NationalNational

By LULU MARK
FORTY-nine more Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant cases have been recorded – taking the total Delta cases nationwide to 191 as of Sunday.
Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Jelta Wong said PNG was expecting an increase in the Delta variant cases spreading around the country.
As of Sunday, according to the National Control Centre for Covid-19 website statistics, 25,068 cases were recorded.
“It will get a lot worse before it gets better,” Wong said.
“We need more vaccination.”
More than 290,000 people have been vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the country’s biggest hospital is into its third week of scaling down services as it tries to deal with the increasing number of Covid-19 daily.
Port Moresby General Hospital chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said the hospital began a two-week scale down on Oct 6 after four people died within a week and more than 80 people admitted.
But from Oct 10-16, 270 more Covid-19 patients went through the emergency department, 81 were admitted on average a week.
“(We are) still on scale-down,” he said.

 

Police fear for remandees’ health

October 19, 2021The NationalMain Stories

POLICE fear that the 19 people on remand at the police station cell in Kerema, Gulf, will all be infected with the Coronavirus (Covid-19) because they have nowhere else safe to go to.
Kerema police station commander Snr Insp Michael Pakyei said 11 of the 19 had already tested positive.
Police officers were given masks and hand sanitisers by the Gulf Health Authority staff to deal with the outbreak at the station.
“They gave us masks and hand sanitisers to handle the Covid-19 positive remandees,” he said.
“The Covid-19 infections rose from seven last week to 11 on Saturday.
“They are still in the cells because the Covid-19 centre in Kerema Town has not been set up yet.
“We don’t know what to do with the remandees.
“It looks like all will be infected by the end of this week.”
Snr Insp Pakyei said the Covid-19-positive group were kept in one cell inside the police station.
“I told the health authority staff to come and do swab tests on the remaining eight remandees,” he said.
“I’m suspecting that they are infected also.”
Snr Insp Pakyei said they had to close down the police station and release those awaiting court cases on minor offences.
“A fumigation company will come from Port Moresby to fumigate the station before we reopen.
“At the moment, we are operating from a tent (temporary office) outside the station.”

Madang notes new Delta cases

October 19, 2021The NationalMain Stories

THE Madang Provincial Hospital recorded two Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant cases yesterday, when the Covid-19 isolation ward was full, and oxygen running out quickly.
Madang provincial health authority acting public health director Dr Martin Damien said within two weeks, eight people died of the Covid-19.
All were not vaccinated.
Yesterday, the 12-bed isolation ward was full.
Eight patients were in the outpatient ward waiting for beds.
“The hospital is seeing an increase in the number of cases every day,” Dr Damien said. “Usino Bundi, especially the Ramu Sugar area, is having another surge now (two of the deaths from there).
“Oxygen is fast running out every day.”
Dr Damien said Madang lacked the capacity to deal with any Covid-19 surge. “Vaccination is the only way to stop a surge,” he said.
Dr Damien urged people to get the vaccine.
He said all districts in Madang were supplied with the Covid-19 vaccine which was available in:

  • BOGIA – Bogia and Malala;
  • MADANG – Provincial Hospital, Jomba Clinic and Sek HC;
  • RAI Coast – Saidor, Ileg and Teptep;
  • SUMKAR – Gaubin, Mugil and Miak;
  • USINO Bundi – Walium, Sausi and Gusap.

Australian state allows no quarantine for travellers

October 19, 2021The NationalNational

AIR Niugini passengers who are Australian citizens, permanent residents or special visa holders can travel to New South Wales (NSW) in Australia from Nov 1 without having to undergo quarantine.
Air Niugini made this known after the NSW government announced a quarantine-free travel for international passengers.
“This will initially be limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and special visa holders.
“We expect this to extend to business travellers and tourists soon,” Air Niugini said in a statement.
Air Niugini said it opened the PX001 flight bookings on Monday for Port Moresby-Sydney passengers.
Additional flights will depend on the number of passengers booking on the Sydney flight.
But Air Niugini warned that most inter-state borders within NSW remain closed.
“Arriving into NSW does not permit onwards travel to Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, South Australia or Northern Territory even if you spend 14 days or more in NSW,” it said.
Air Niugni said for entry into NSW, passengers must be fully vaccinated and complete a negative Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test at Port Moresby airport, during check-in.
Air Niugini said only fully vaccinated passengers would be allowed on the Brisbane flight.
“Unvaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents can return to Australia on PX003 to Brisbane, but will require 14 days hotel quarantine on arrival.”

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