Coronavirus

People queued for pubs and bars that opened at midnight on Monday specifically for the occasion.

Many others have been enjoying anticipated reunions and visits to the homes of relatives and friends.

Covid rules had banned household visits and travel beyond a 5km (3.1 miles) zone, separating many families.

But most restrictions have now been eased for fully vaccinated people.

People can now share meal together at reopened cafes and restaurants, and visit gyms and other shops. There were long queues for barbers, nail salons and beauticians on Monday.

There were 56 cases in the city yesterday, the highest since 1 September, with three in Waikato and one in the Bay of Plenty.

But there was also hope, as first-dose vaccination rates hit 86 percent.

Covid-19 modeller professor Shaun Hendy said as cases trend upwards, the outbreak was at a critical point.

"It is possible that we could end up in the triple digits so that's something that the government should be considering and it should be developing a plan for what happens ... because that will put real strain on the health system in Auckland," he said.

Two of the new cases are health workers with the number of active cases in the province stands at 20, with no deaths reported 24 hours prior to October 6^th.

All mild cases have been transferred to the respiratory centre, while severe cases remain in isolation. The isolation ward has 16 beds and the respiratory centre has 12.

As of 24^th of September, 2821 people have been vaccinated, 366 of them are health workers and 2045 essential workers. Talasea District has 2537 people fully vaccinated and 284 people from Kandrian Gloucester.

Member for Moresby South, Justin Tkatchenko and NCD Governor Powes Parkop jointly launched the rollout with a few getting their first jab. 

The COVID-19 Vaccination roll out program in Moresby South electorate is part of the broader National Capital District Vaccination Drive, which had already begun at established designated sites at Waigani Central and Erima.

The vaccination drive is steadily gaining momentum with its vaccinated figures slowly climbing in the nation’s capital.

Overnight the company, which supplies one of Australia’s three coronavirus vaccines, applied to the US Food and Drug Administration requesting it allow the use of its product in children aged between 5 and 11.

Pfizer submitted data to the US regulator from a study of 2268 participants aged between 5 and 11 that showed the vaccine was safe for children and “and elicited robust neutralising antibody responses” in the younger participants.

The donation also included six hot water urn for patients and 60 plastic chairs for the frontline health workers to use at their workstation and power extension cords with accessories.

These items are the first of the donations purchased with the funding that were raised through a fundraising drive organized by the Association, which started last Sunday. Within a week they were able to raise over K30,000, with much financial help from its professional members.

Dr Samiran Panda said drones are being used to deliver doses in mountainous states in the country's north-east.

India aims to vaccinate all eligible citizens by the end of 2021 but experts say the drive needs to pick up a consistent pace to meet the target.

India has so far given more than 925 million doses of three approved jabs.

About 70% of the country's eligible population have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, according to official data.

He made this call after the National Control Centre advised that there is evidence of rising COVID-19 cases, particularly Delta Variant.

“It is important that we now make a call for the bureaucracy and the public service to take the lead by getting vaccinated in order to protect yourself, co-workers and families. This is not a mandatory imposition on anyone.

“For the moment, our advisors point vaccine as the only option to protect us against the effects of COVID-19,” added Mr Pomaleu.

Henri Dokucas Naisseline said the vaccination obligation deprives people of fundamental rights of freedom and respect for human dignity.

The high chief of the Gaumha district on the island of Mare has decided to stop the vaccination drive in all the tribes under his control, suggesting the vaccine is dangerous.

However, he said those who wish to get the vaccine can still get it.

In August, the government launched an inoculation campaign in the mainly Kanak Loyalty Islands, called Vacci'tribs, in the hope of vaccinating 80 percent of the population by January.

This was revealed by the Deputy Controller of National COVID-19 Pandemic, Dr. Esorom Daoni when he hosting a virtual media conference on this week.

He said the provinces can be categorized either as high risk or a low risk basing on the rate of infection and number of deaths. 

Out of 67 cases, 98 percent of the cases are locally acquired transmission. 

To date the high risk provinces are West Sepik, Western and Eastern Highlands provinces with others categorized as medium risk, however Dr. Daoni said those in medium risk should also be upgraded to high risk status.