COVID-19

The support to stop violence against women and children, raises awareness on domestic and gender based violence against women and children.

In line with this, OFP is planning to host a women’s championship to raise awareness on domestic and gender based violence against women and children next year to drive the message of stopping violence against women.

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.

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.

This includes getting the Government to look into insuring frontline healthcare workers - doctors, nurses and those directly involved in handling the pandemic response.

He immediately met with his key ministers and members of the National Pandemic Control Centre upon arrival from New York last Sunday to be updated on the status of the pandemic during his 11 days of absence in the country.

The staff who were present had the opportunity to choose between the Johnson and Johnson vaccine or AstraZeneca vaccine.

The Speaker of Parliament Job Pomat and several staff from the Speaker’s office also received the COVID-19 vaccination.

Mr Pomat said he opted for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, and he would like to see more people come forward to be vaccinated. He stressed that the staff are not forced to be vaccinated but emphasized that vaccination is an individual’s choice.

Provincial Administrator and Provincial Controller, John Gimiseve has confirmed the curfew as a major resolution of the stakeholder meeting held yesterday.

The Response team agreed to impose a 12-hour curfew from 5pm to 6am starting today and will continue for the next two weeks.

“Our situation in the province is not good, therefore the National Controller has categorized Eastern Highlands, Western and West Sepik provinces as high risk. This means we are in a province where COVID-19 does not discriminate.   

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.

Stop N Shop at Central Waigani started with the first vaccination in front of the shop yesterday.

A moment of silence was observed in remembrance of the front line health workers in PNG who have passed away with infections from COVID-19, including a medical doctor.

During the opening of the vaccination rollout from CPL Group CEO Navin Raju, expressed gravity of the situation on COVID-19 vaccination by referring to a report from New York Times that PNG is listed 149^th out of 160 countries (Vaccination coverage).

An urgent meeting of the Provincial COVID-19 Response team held today has announced a 12-hour curfew is imminent and would start on Friday 01^st of October at 5pm and ends at 6am.

The response team headed by the provincial administrator, John Gimiseve said the curfew is a response to the increase in COVID-19 cases in EHP.

Eastern Highlands is classified as one of the high risk provinces and has been well prepared for the pandemic, however with the arrival of the new Delta Variant the facilities have now proven inadequate.

Ardern announced the changes for people who may need to cross the Auckland boundary at today's media briefing on the Delta outbreak.

There are eight new cases of Covid-19 in the community today and four in managed isolation.

Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield also spoke at the briefing.

Ardern says from 11.59pm tonight, people will be able to leave Auckland into a level 2 environment if they: