Omicron detected in Papua New Guinea

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

Omicron detected in Papua New Guinea

(Covid-19 booster shots approved)

PORT MORESBY: The first case of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) variant Omicron has been detected here, National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning says.

“The carrier was a man who travelled from South Africa last month through London and Hong Kong,” he added.

And Manning also made a timely announcement that the Government has approved the taking of Covid-19 booster shots for all who have been fully vaccinated in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

“The approval and directive were issued on Thursday (Jan 13, 2022). Anyone residing in PNG may receive the booster dose to further protect themselves against Covid-19,” he added.

The news break was published by The National:

First case of new variant

January 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

David Manning

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
OMICRON, the newest variant of the Coronavirus (Covid-19), has been detected in the country, according to National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning.
He told The National last night that the carrier was a man who travelled from South Africa last month through London and Hong Kong.
“A male traveller who departed South Africa in December, and transited through London and Hong Kong, had initially tested negative and was not displaying any symptoms when he arrived in Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“(But) a subsequent test returned as positive and the man then went into quarantine.”
Manning said the arrival of the Omicron variant in PNG had been expected and should not give any increased cause for concern as long as people took precautions and observed public health safety measures.
“The Government has been preparing for the arrival of the Omicron variant, just as we had been for the Delta variant in the middle of last year,” he said.
“Now, we are working to reduce the rate of its spread.”
Manning said given the period of the man’s travel, it was unclear when and where he contracted the Omicron strain.
“Taking into consideration that the Omicron incubation period can be as little as three days, it is likely that the man acquired the Covid-19 after he departed South Africa,” he said. “Contact tracing has been undertaken and no further close contact infections have been identified.
“But considering the timeline surrounding the man’s movements, the Government is working on the assumption that the Omicron variant is now active in Papua New Guinea.
“The Omicron variant has already swept around the world and has become the dominant strain of Covid-19, but the news is not all bad and this is not a time for panic.
“While it has been found that the Omicron variant spreads quicker than other strains, it has also been found to be less virulent, meaning that people are not getting as sick from Omicron as they were from Delta.”
He said for unvaccinated people, “their risk of serious illness or death from this variant remains very high”.
Manning said those vaccinated could still get the Covid-19 “but are very unlikely to get seriously ill and will likely just have mild symptoms like a cold”.
“The key message for our people is to not panic, but to do the right thing and reduce the speed of the spread,” he said.
“Ultimately, everyone is likely to get the Covid-19 at some point in time.
“What we can do is to get vaccinated, practise social distancing and isolate as soon as we show symptoms.

Booster shots approved

January 18, 2022The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MARK
THE Government has approved the taking of Coronavirus (Covid-19) booster shots for all who have been fully vaccinated in Papua New Guinea (PNG), Pandemic Response Controller David Manning says.
“The approval and directive was issued on Thursday. Anyone residing in PNG may receive the booster dose to further protect themselves against Covid-19,” he said.
Manning said booster shots were approved after the National Control Centre (NCC) was advised by the Medical and Scientific Advisory Committee (Mesac).
He said Mesac deputy chairman from the University of Papua New Guinea School of Medicine and Health Science Professor Sir Isi Kevau gave the formal advice to the NCC.
“Mesac has advised that there is now overwhelming evidence that a Covid-19 booster shot is prudent, even for people who are fully vaccinated as an additional layer of protection,” Manning said.
“The booster shot is important for people who have compromised immune systems or other underlying health conditions and the elderly.
“But also more generally, people who had their primary vaccination more than six months ago should receive a booster dose to enhance effectiveness.
The Mesac recommendation is in line with prevailing advice from medical specialists in partner countries and the World Health Organisation.”
Manning said the Mesac advice was that the booster dose should ideally be of the same vaccine as the person originally received, but this could be changed for those who have received Astrazeneca or Sinopharm.
“This means a person who has been fully vaccinated with Astrazeneca or Sinopharm vaccine should receive a booster shot of AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson (J&J),” he said.
Manning said there was no change to the availability of Covid-19 vaccines.
He said receiving the vaccine remained entirely voluntary.
“It is simply advisable that the best way to survive Covid-19 is to be vaccinated,” Manning said.
“Those fully vaccinated can receive their booster dose from any medical facility where vaccines are available.”
Manning said priority should continue to be provided to the target population groups for all vaccinations.
According to the National Control Centre Covid-19 vaccination daily dashboard, as of Sunday, 398,707 doses of vaccines have been administered in the country, of which 19,392 were Sinopharm, 130,631 J&J and 239,684 AstraZeneca.
To date, 229,423 people have been fully vaccinated.
It is recommended that when receiving a booster dose, refer to the table above.