Coronavirus

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Niupela Pasin vital for market controllers

This is currently held with the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) Market Management Division, to sensitize and improve fundamental knowledge on COVID-19, Niupela Pasin, Vaccination and Water, Sanitation & Hygiene to 60 NCDC Market Controllers.

The workshop is underway at the NCDC Annex Building starting on Monday 13th to Wednesday 15th of March, 2023 and it includes representatives from the Department of Health, Health Promotions branch and Environmental Health and Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

C19 Taskforce set to visit provinces

According to the Department of Health Report on vaccination, 311,435 persons representing 6.1 percent of Papua New Guinea’s population have been fully vaccinated. This is a significantly low rate compared to other countries around the world.

To address the low uptake of vaccines in Papua New Guinea, the COVID-19 Vaccine Ministerial Taskforce will be coordinating the work undertaken by partners that contributed to addressing the negative impact of the global pandemic on the economy.

China reports huge rise in COVID-related deaths after data criticism

Key points:

  • China had previously reported just over 5,000 deaths since the pandemic began
  • The WHO had said earlier this week said that China was heavily under-reporting deaths from the virus
  • Authorities had been reporting five or fewer deaths a day over the past month

In early December, Beijing abruptly dismantled its strict three-year anti-virus regime of frequent testing, travel curbs and mass lockdowns after widespread protests in late November, and cases have surged since then across the nation of 1.4 billion.

COVID-Omicron XBB variant

Singapore News Agency reported that the COVID-Omicron variant is different, deadly and not easily detected properly. 

Papua New Guineans living in communal settings are vulnerable to communicable diseases. Thus it is important to be aware of such important announcements as the surge of COVID-Omicron XBB variant surge in Singapore and other countries. 

The XBB virus does not necessary come with coughing or fever as the former COVID-19 does, but there will be joint pain, headache, neck pain, upper back pain, Pneumonia, and loss of appetite.

NCC Supports NIP prepare for COVID-19

Two weeks ago, Papua New Guinea experienced its fifth wave of COVID-19 infection with over 46,284 cases and 600 deaths recorded as of 8 December 2022.

New Ireland Province has had 50% positivity rate in the number of samples that tested for Covid-19 since November 2022 at the Kavieng General Hospital.

Deputy Controller, Dr. Daoni Esorom and 5 staff from the National Covid-19 Control Centre were in New Ireland Province from the 19th - 24th of December, 2022 to support the New Ireland Provincial Health Authority (PHA) to respond to the Covid-19 Surge.

Omicron outbreak in China

Key points:

  • Chen Erzhen says his hospital in Shanghai sees 1,600 emergency admissions daily, with 80 per cent COVID-19 patients
  • Chinese officials are bracing for rising numbers in rural areas as Lunar New Year approaches 
  • More than a dozen countries have imposed restrictions on travellers from China

The steep rise in infections came after years of hardline restrictions were abruptly loosened last month, with little warning or preparation, and quickly overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums.

Learning from COVID

The Covid-19 pandemic stretched health systems globally, and for resource challenged countries such as Papua New Guinea, even more so.

For ANGAU Memorial Provincial Hospital, the positives of enduring the global pandemic were the opportunity to adapt and learn, collaborate with other institutions, and be supported by neighbours such as Australia.

Practice Good Health Hygiene

This was the key message from the National Coordination Centre (NCC) for COVID-19 response in the country, to more than 3000 students from 28 secondary schools in NCD.
The students attended the 2022 NCD Secondary Schools Career Expo this week, held at the Port Moresby National School of Excellence. 
 
The students were advised to continue to wear masks in the school if physical distancing is not possible and practice safe healthy hygiene at all times. 
 

New Pandemic Measure 2

This was the directive issued in the revocation of previous measure number 2, under National Pandemic Act 2021, on 4th of August, by the National Pandemic Controller, David Manning.

Under the new Measure No 2, a person is considered fully vaccinated if they have received:

No COVID-19 tests on arrival: ANG

This was effective Friday 05th August.

PNG Pandemic Controller and Police Commissioner, David Manning, issued the latest Pandemic Order no. 2 on Friday, which removes all requirements for COVID-19 tests on arrival in the country.

All Air Niugini inbound passengers from Australia, Asia and the Pacific can now travel into Port Moresby without having to do any COVID-19 tests on arrival.