Coronavirus

Healthcare workers must be prioritised for vaccines, WHO head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, and he criticised unfairness in the distribution of jabs.

The deaths occurred between January 2020 and May of this year.

Earlier, another senior WHO official warned a lack of jabs could see the pandemic continue well into next year.

There are an estimated 135 million healthcare workers globally.

"Data from 119 countries suggest that on average, two in five healthcare workers globally are fully vaccinated," Dr Tedros said.

PMGH Management raised concern through a media conference held at the hospital morgue yesterday. 

Director for Curative Health, Dr Kone Sobi addressed the media on the concern of the mortuary capacity. 
“There are currently in excess of 300 bodies. Lots of bodies have been here for several months, largely because relatives are not coming to pick up their loved ones (deceased) and so part of this campaign would be encouraging those relatives to come and pick their loved ones and offer them a decent burial,” he said

The PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response office had confirmed this numbers and highlighted the confirmed COVID cases in the provinces and vaccination coverage in respective regions. 

These new cases were reported from 10 provinces of which Western Highlands reported the highest of 122, followed by NCD (73), Morobe (45), Central (15), West New Britain (14), Eastern Highlands (11), Western (2), Madang (2), Hela (2) and Jiwaka (2).

The Ministry of Health said 94 of the cases were in Auckland and eight in Waikato. Thirty of the cases are household contacts.

Forty of the new cases remain unlinked and there are 199 unlinked cases in the past 14 days.

There were 60 new community cases yesterday.

All of the Waikato cases were in the Te Awamutu area, the ministry said. Seven had already been linked to known cases.

One of the Waikato cases travelled to Hawke's Bay last Friday, but returned to Te Awamutu before testing positive.

This was the warning from Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare this week as he reiterated the government's target of 90 percent vaccination coverage before reopening.

"By Friday of last week, only 44,613 people have completed their full vaccination, representing only 12 percent of the targeted 90 perecent coverage," Manasseh Sogavare said.

Mr Sogavare said this is despite 108,417 people having already had their first jabs.

Titled ‘Why some of Papua New Guinea’s urban residents are reluctant to take covid-19 vaccine? Strategy to increase vaccination rates’ – the study covers six key points:

Flights by Air Caledonie from Noumea to Mare, Lifou and Ouvea have been suspended until further notice.

The pass can be obtained once seven days have elapsed after the second jab of an mRNA vaccine and 28 days after getting other vaccines.

It is also available for those who have had a fresh negative test or proof of having recovered from Covid-19.

The provisions are resisted by several groups, including unions, which also reject the new local law, making vaccinations compulsory by the end of the year.

Dr Kotapu made the call today when talking to the National Agriculture Quarantine Inspection Authority (NAQIA) staff on the importance of vaccination.

He clarified that about half of the population globally have already vaccinated and there is no excuse for Papua New Guineans not to be vaccinated.

“We cannot continue to believe conspiracy theories about the vaccines as people are dying every day of the coronavirus.

“People in developed countries are taking vaccines and we cannot just sit down and expect the Government to warn us every day on the coronavirus.”

Unconfirmed reports from within Mendi hospital stated that out of the 1400 people who have been tested for COVID-19 under rapid testing, 550 were confirmed cases. Alarmingly, 11 deaths recorded so far were COVID-19 related with 55 have been admitted in the wards and 35 very ill people are camping in tents outside the hospital, as there is no space in the hospital.

From the 11 that passed on, eight are male and three females but many who have died outside the hospital are not on record.

With much debate on whether people should take the vaccine circulating, the Council of Churches has made its stand in support and is encouraging Papua New Guineans to take the vaccines.

Today, the Council launched a handbook of the Churches perspective on COVID-19 vaccine title “I am my brother’s/sister’s keeper.

Council of Churches Chairman, Sir Cardinal John Ribat encouraged all churches to come out and talk about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines.