Pandemic

Deputy Pandemic Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says that the country is still in the pandemic and people still have to comply with the COVID-19 protocols to protect themselves and others against COVID-19. This includes getting vaccinated.

“We are working on the country recovery strategies that will be put in place post-election. It is important to note that all our four surges have been due to some national gathering, the election is a super spreader event, and we expect a surge during or after the election,” Dr. Daoni said.

Yet, since the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide in December 2019, only 1.2 percent of people in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as at October 2021 had been fully vaccinated.

In order to help improve vaccination rates, business houses in PNG began to actively encourage vaccination rollout in the workplace. As “no jab, no job” has become the hallmark of many a PNG employers’ whip to enforce COVID-19 vaccine policy in the workplace, their workers were under pressure to choose between getting vaccinated and continue to work or lose their jobs if not vaccinated.

Overall, Netflix added 18.2 million members last year - roughly half the number who subscribed in 2020.

Investors had hoped that pace would start to pick up again.

But the firm's 2022 forecast brought bad news, sending shares down almost 20% in after-hours trade.

The firm said it expected to add just 2.5 million members in the three months to March - far lower than analysts had expected.

The NCC also highlighted in their latest statistics that Delta cases have not increased since the last count of 627.

From latest COVID-19 update from the NCC, Papua New Guinea recorded 11 COVID-19 infections on Friday 31 December 2021, increasing the total confirmed cases to 36,190.

The NCC confirmed that the new cases were recorded in Northern with seven, East New Britain two, while Central and Western Highlands recorded one each.

As of December 31^st 2021, 35,515 persons have recovered from the virus, while the dead toll remains at 590.

Mr Manning said the Government has preparations in place to deploy a rapid response to the new threat, drawing from lessons learned during the recent spread of the Delta variant around the country.

While scientists continue their investigation into the new variant, the Controller said people around the country must be patient and ready to respond.

The World Health Organization announced Friday it has designated the newly identified coronavirus variant, B.1.1.529, as a variant of concern, named Omicron.

Besides South Africa, the newly identified variant has been detected in Botswana, Hong Kong and Belgium.

The donation is part of Ela Motors’ continuous support to the hospital since the pandemic began in 2020.

Ela Motors National Marketing Manager, Benjamin Niligur, thanked the Friends of POMGen and their effort to support POMGEN.

“On behalf of Ela Motors, we extend our appreciation to Friends of POMGEN and what they do for our National Hospital and as part of our annual ‘Corporate Social Responsibility Program’ we are happy to donate PPE supplies ranging from face shields, gloves, hand sanitizers, masks and gowns,” Mr Niligur said. 

In its situation report dated November 20^th to 24^th, the Morobe Provincial Health Authority reported 84 active COVID-19 cases for this month.

From the cumulative total of 2,427, 2,342 have recovered.

For cases per district:

• Lae – 1,776
• Bulolo – 167
• Huon – 137
• Nawaeb – 96
• Finschhafen – 94
• Usino-Bundi – 51
• Markham – 43
• Tewai-Siassi – 26
• Kabwum – 21
• Menyamya – 16

Vaccination update