Coronavirus

Education Minister, Joseph Yopyyopy, says this means the 2020 academic year is affected by four weeks.

“Furthermore, this resumption date is subject to the status of the COVID-19 situation over the next two weeks,” Yopyyopy said in his ministerial policy statement (3/2020).

“The Education Department will revise and advise parents and authorities of new term dates, holidays and other critical events like examinations.

Manning made this comment following allegations posted on Facebook that Health Minister Jelta Wong had given a K50 million contract to Borneo Pacific Pharmaceuticals Ltd for the supply of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the State of Emergency.

“This is totally false. No such contract was ever given,” refuted Manning.

“As the Controller of the SOE, I am the legal authority under the Emergency Orders for procurement and direction of the SOE personnel and supplies and deny that any such contract was issued to Borneo by the Minister for Health.

Police Commissioner and SOE Controller, David Manning, said as this is a health related emergency, the Prime Minister, James Marape, has delegated Health Minister Jelta Wong as the official government spokesperson on the PNG Government response to the coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic.

“It is critical and necessary that the established protocols with regard to the release of information are observed so that the correct information is being disseminated to the people of PNG,” Manning said.

Marape informed of the need to be strategic and targeted when rolling out Government contingents and preventive measures on COVID-19 in his statement at the Special Parliament on Thursday, April 2^nd, 2020.

He says all agencies must comply and align their plans with the orders aimed at managing and containing any likelihood of this virus spreading.

Minister for Health, Jelta Wong, said these are the latest figures after continued follow ups by the government’s response teams.

Minister Wong said of the 7, 127 Persons of Interest (POI), 6, 560 POI’s have been cleared.

The remaining 567 are being followed up and out of this figure 117 identified as Persons Under Investigation have returned negative results.

“The significant decrease in the number of ‘Persons of Interest’  is because of continuous following up and screening,” Wong said.

A family advocate in Tonga said the national lockdown and closing of borders had added stress to many households.

Tonga is under a State of Emergency as the government attempted to keep the country Covid-19 free.

Tonga's Women & Children Crisis Centre Director, 'Ofa Guttenbeil Likiliki, said being in confinement could mean those already in violent relationships, could have their situation exacerbated.

She said the community would start to feel the economic crunch of the pandemic measures.

Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) is supporting the Porgera Coronavirus Task Force Committee by providing fuel and logistics support including the provision of information materials and community radio awareness on Covid 19.

The District Coronavirus Task Force committee comprises membership of the local police, district health, Paiam hospital, Ipili Council of Churches, District Administration, Porgera Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Restoring justice Initiative (RJI) and PJV.

He made the announcement today, when announcing NCDC’s plan forward during the extension of the SOE lockdown.

Seventy percent of the people living in the city depend on the informal sector for survival. The betel-nut business alone has helped a lot of families in the city and the Central and Gulf Provinces to put food on the table, pay for school fees and to provide for necessary needs.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop says, there has been enough information disseminated to city residents by the awareness team and also through the media.

As of Monday penalties to persons who do not comply with the rules under the SOE will take into effect.

In a press conference today, Governor Parkop says he has asked the Defence force to help with police to mend the streets of Port Moresby during this two months lockdown.

The Governor outlined that the main markets around the city will continue to operate. However, road side markets are prohibited.

In the fight against Covid-19, the PPE kits is the prerogative of the National Government to purchase and have it sent to all provinces.

Member for North Fly James Donald said there is an imminent threat that the virus may find its way across the border, and has called on the government to give Western province a priority.

“Ol Personal Protective equipment blong ol wok man blong yumi, mi no lukim yet long Western Provins, olgeta haus sik long Daru, Balimo, Kiunga, mipla no kisim yet.