31 new cases in city

The National Main Stories

By GYNNIE KERO and REBECCA KUKU
IT will be compulsory, starting Wednesday, for everyone in Port Moresby to wear masks in public, says National Pandemic Controller David Manning.
The directive comes as 31 more Covid-19 cases were confirmed in the capital city over the weekend, taking the city’s total to 55, and the national total to 62, as of 8pm yesterday.
“All persons working in a designated market, establishment or on public transport in which they interact in person with customers or in an enclosed space, must wear masks at all times,” Manning said.
“A person is exempted from these measures if he or she removes the masks or face covering to eat, drink or take medication.
“No person shall be permitted entry unless the person is wearing a mask or face covering in a manner which covers their mouth, nose and chin.”
A spokesman for the National Operations Centre told The National yesterday that the enforcement of the order was currently being worked out and would be made public.
“Relevant operation orders are being drafted to cater for this and other measures. We will advise in due course when these orders come out,” the spokesman said.

James Marape

Meanwhile, Prime Minister James Marape told The National yesterday that the 20 new positive cases were from contact tracing of the recent cases. One, however, emerged from one of clinics in Port Moresby.
One new case was confirmed on Friday, followed by seven on Saturday and 23 yesterday.
Marape said most were currently in isolation at the Rita Flynn medical facility.
“As I indicated last week, the Covid-19 is on the rise in Port Moresby,” he said.
“The June Bubble where the ADF soldier plus his work mate at Murray Barracks and her contact’s positive results showed presence of the virus in the city. Since then, we have continued our test on possible areas that is now picking up increasing presence of the coronavirus.”
Marape said PNG was on the level three stage of the Covid-19 where restrictions were placed on citizens to contain the spread.
He plans to call a National Security Council meeting today to discuss the recent surge.
“While the controller (Manning) has powers to make unilateral calls based on advice of our scientific and medical body, this medical crisis has wide ramifications,” Marape said.
“I am now calling a National Security Council meeting tomorrow (today) to look at options for the containment of this Covid-19.”
He urged citizens to take care “of your health, your family’s, your neighbours and your country”.
“It’s not time to play petty politics or find someone to blame, but for us to pull together to stop the Covid-19 from not spreading,” he said.
“I also thank all frontline workers assisting in this work. We will also be calling for volunteers if need be to put more hands and boots in this fight.”

36 comments

  • Good PM,
    Please close Domestic flights plus public gathering immediately to stop spread of COVID 19

  • Seven months have lapsed since the virus first emerged from Wuhan in China and was made public. Our people had so much time to learn from other countries’ experiences and put in place practices to mitigate the spread of this virus. We should not be REACTIVE but be PROACTIVE. That means we anticipate what is going to happen and take preventative measures in ADVANCE in order to stop the virus spreading. We should NOT take reactive action AFTER the situation has gotten worse.
    For me, its about time wearing of face masks/coverings should be made mandatory in ALL our cities and towns, not only Port Moresby.

  • Please control measures needed in overcrowding places like Gordon Market, Unagi oval, Boroko market etc…

  • COVID-19 was here and is here to stay, every citizens must comply to simple instructions given on this pandemic. Preventive measures such as washing hands, coughing and sneezing to elbow, stay 2 meters away from others, wear face masks, spitting in public places, shaking hands, sharing of food etc are some simple preventive measures to adhere .
    Strict control of international borders and strict control on international travellers should be focused. PNGeans can live with this pandemic if we adhere to instructions. We have the land, we have food to grow on our land, we can eat our own food we grow, we can live and survive traditionally, however we may not progress to compare with other nations economically.
    We must not blame anyone, because no one knows what will be tomorrow, ONLY THE CREATOR GOD knows. Be prepared as COVID-19 pandemic may change patterns of our normal life and with this, we may also change our lifestyle.

  • restrict people’s movement from one location to another.

    God Bless Papua New Guinea…

  • The Controllers officer and the Prime Ministers office by now should close all domestic flights in and out of POM so that the virus does not spread to other provinces. Also should they look into closely monitoring the borders of Central Province and NCDC. We don’t want this virus spreading like a wild fire to the rural coastal villages, strict controls has to be in place by now to stop the spread of the virus to these rural areas.

  • The facts given the statistics so far vs the FEAR WAR.

    Attack Rate = 62 cases to-date from 9885 tests done = 0.6 % [ie: for every 200 tests, expect 1 positive case]

    Incidence Rate = 62 cases in a susceptible population of 8million = 0.008/1000 people [ie: from every 1000 people, EXPECT 1 case]

    Mortality Rate = 1 death from 62 positive cases = 16 / 1000 people per year [ie: expect 16 people to die from Covid-19 in every 1000 people every year] it should be zero since the lady who died [due respect] was suffering 4th stage cancer.

    Case Fatality Rate = 1 death from 62 cases = the likelihood of dying from covid-19 is about 2%. ie: quite low….also should be zero %

    Guys, these facts are no-way near the rates for Pneumonia, Malaria, HIV, TB, Meningitis, issues relating to pregnancy and birthing, Road accidents, Lung, Mouth, Cervical, Prostate etc Cancers, Homicides relating to witch-craft, Heart failures, Malnutrition, High Blood Pressure etc. etc.

    There is NO REASON yet to press the PANICK BUTTON. WE ARE NOT AT WAR with Covid. The real war is with the health conditions mentioned above.

    Nevertheless, covid-19 has attracted a whopping 600 million of national budget and growing! A special parliamentary bill attributed to covid-19 giving special powers to a select group of people. Schools have been disrupted…employment has been affected, affecting families and communities. Religious activity has been limited or suppressed…[only Satan would favour that!]

    World Health Organisation is ASKING to help our health experts….and know what?, they will be here to formulate measures to advance the Globalists agenda to usher in the covid-19 vaccine that is linked to the dreaded 666 number described in the bible [revelation 13].

    Take heed PNGs! Go back to the Bible! Make sure your life is insured…Read John Chapter 3. Romans Chapter 10 vs 8, 9 & 10. Ephesians 1 vs 13.

    Covid-19 is here and will stay…BUT ALMIGHTY GOD IS STILL SITTING ON HIS THRONE!!!

  • the queen has been born to our nation .
    Respect her.
    Restrict every domestic flights and careful to the infected area by using the restrictive measures.. Hope we all safe, God bless…

  • Stop all the talking. Lets all put into action what we heard as per Jesus teachings in Mat 7. 24-27. I mean all of us holistically together we can fight this fight :
    1. PMJM should publically and ceremonially withdraw the CURSE that he announced on the Repentance day after he became PM of the nation. He cursed those who stole from the state. Biblically this is WRONG. He invited curse into the country instead of the blessing. Why? All the kings, priests, judges, prophets, patriachs and even Jesus Christ never one time cursed Gods people. They forgave them and only and interceeded for them even if they were committing sins including sin of apastasy. Jesus Christ himself for gave those who arrested, crucified and killed him on the cross of calvary. PMJM should have forgave those alledged thieves for and on behalf of 8m people. Penalty and punishment for their sins is Gods business. Normal legal processes to root out the corruprion should proceed. Therefore, I am asking our good PMJM to withdraw his unbiblical and immatured public declarations.

    Secondly, state must mark one day fasting & praying seeking Gods face asking him to withdraw Covid 19 from PNG. How? All citizens starting from PM office including PM himself down to old men and women including animals in every household to sit on the streets in sackclothes Fasting & Praying. If the city of Ninevah was saved in the book of Jonah, we can do the same. When Jonah prrached to this gentiles in that city, all incl prime minister removed ego, comfort, qualifications, status, and humbled themselves cried to God asking him to withdraw his wrath. Bible says God heard this gentile peoples prayer and he withdrew his intended wrath on them after 40 days. We are gentiles and God will hear our prayers like those gentiles in city of Ninevah. This day is not the same as national repentance day. This is purposely for Covid 19 pandemics.
    This event can start 4am to 7pm one day on the streets of POM. Police and PDF can control the people movement, more structured and organised manner.
    Title of the day ” God heard Ninevites so will same God hear our request to withdraw Covid 19 pandemics,”

  • Nature is taking its own cause to regulate and control unhygienic behavior, attitude problem, population control, environment pollution, corruption and the list goes on. Covid 19 will not discriminate race, status, religion, gender, age, ethnicity whatsoever. The sole responsibility lies in our hands as individuals. How we conduct ourselves in the midst of this crisis individually, will determine whether we survive this or go down with it. Life stap lo han blo yu wan wan nau.

  • Let’s not panic and start practising the hygiene rules and other related requirements set by the Health specialist.
    We can pray to our God Jehovah but if don’t obey the instructions from the Government our prayers will be a waste.
    They that have ears must learn to listen and follow instructions.
    We are Human beings and all have EARS.

  • 1) All international flights should be ban.
    2) Close all educational institutions 1st. Education will not kill people. Education is everywhere, anywhere, anyplace and anyhow but not lives. Therefore, these 2 important points should be addressed seriouly Hon: Prime Minister.

  • Agree with Mexy Kagaso. The death rate from COVID-19 in PNG is quite low compared with other diseases and causes of death. However, the rapid rise in infections is a cause for concern. We have been very complacent from day one. How and where was the money spent. The preventive measures that have been taken are not sufficent or inadequate.
    Why are we making wearing masks compulsory just now? It should have been done from the day the first case was reported. We KNEW from the start that COVID-19 was here to stay.
    Another lockdown will not be necessary. The people of PNG have suffered enough already. Find other ways to contain the spread of COVID-19, not another lockdown.

  • Please no more lock down. Let those that will die, die and life will continue. I see much fear mongering here – while ordinary PNG citizens suffer because of COVID 19 the well-to- do are soaking up all the money associated in the name of COVID 19 prevention.

    Pump the left over money into PPEs for everyone in PNG – let the people chose whether to wear the PPEs or not.

    Enough of these lock downs, Please!

  • Do as they did in Italy. Shut down all public transportation. Only transportation for food, medical and other necessary supplies should be allowed. Halt all domestic flights before people try to flee POM and carry the virus back home to their provinces. Close down all markets, even road side markets. Italy locked down the country for 3 months and is on the process of recovery now. 63 cases is nothing compared to what other countries are going through right now so the government must not overreact. But it is still better to act early but shutting down the country. Maybe it will be a sacrifice worth it. You can save a revive the economy of a country but you can’t save a life once it is gone.

  • “Ps 46:10 – Be still and know that I AM GOD”. God almighty is greater than COVID 19. Do NOT panic but let us ALL(As individuals or families or church families) get down on our knees and pray wholeheartedly and earnestly.

  • What about all education institutions in the country, especially the Universities and colleges? We are into our second semester and if the worse comes to worse, we will never find a good placing in the academic. The first SOE period was just one case and eventually ended up locking ourselves down without completion of semester one academic courses. Especially at the University of Goroka, we really struggled to to reach the minimum requirements for us to continue into semester two. Please this is getting tougher as before, so restrictions must be imposed on unnecessary movements in and out of Port Moresby to Provinces through domestic flights. People are waiting waiting to see someone or people die from COVID19 before taking necessary precautions. But the question is that; How well do we prepared to tackle the pandemic that are at rise? We have all the information and experience from the first SOE period, so let’s try to be more realistic in those measures.

  • The God of Abraham,Issac,Jacob and God of the 8 million plus people of Papua New Guinea is far bigger than Corona-Virus.He has protected us for the fast few months and He will do it again for PNG going forward.The Precious Blood of Jesus Christ has emerged as a Shield of Protection.

    God Bless PNG.

  • Psalm 23:… yea though I walk through the valley in the shadow of death I will fearn on evil for thou art with me..
    Jesus also taught us to e anxious for nothing and “to fear no evil”
    We have a bright future so build on that and not this fear mongering that the media and those without hope preach.

  • Thank you PMJM,

    Just my opinion, would it be possible if the country as a whole should be in lockdown, not NCD only. if we are really serious, since then people have been travelling in and out of the Captial, and maybe the community transmission has increased by now. by this time we will exprience, number’s to increase.

  • This is all part of evolution. Every thousand years or so a major catastrophe affects the inhabitants of the planet. This caused the extinction of dinosaurs, the death of a third of the European population by the plague and a hundred years ago, the Spanish flu. Its a race against time for scientists to develop vaccines but meantime, its the survival of the fittest. The message here is “adapt or die”. All citizens must adhere strictly to the precautionary measures imposed. we do not have natural immunity to the disease.

  • Thanks Samson Kopapa,

    At this time the Gospel of Jesus Christ must be preach and all must hear and Repent, Baptized in Jesus name, must receive the Holy Spirit and be a changed person. The only saved place now is under the covering of the blood of Jesus Christ. Read Acts 2: 38, We must all follow the salvation plan that was preached by the Apostles of Jesus Christ and get ourselves prepared and be ready.

  • We should not put the blame on people who are positive with the virus because it is the Government fault that open up the international flights to the other country which invite the virus into the our country therefore we should not make any comments to them…

  • Please noken RUSH lets not panic lo wokim ol kainkain samting because this disease is here to stay and it will stay as long as it will so all citizens must strictly and seriously start practicing hygiene rules .

  • Not only banning domestic flights but also sea travel in and out of NCD. Please Health authorities, do use the allocated funds properly. In Madang I see the money is used unwisely meaning taking advantage of the funds for self gain. Several Cars & Buses plus Speed Boats/Dinghies are bought and the health workers are using them for themselves most of the time.
    I have a suggestion her: Will the government of the day sell those cars, buses, boats, etc after the pandemic and make some revenue out of it.
    if not, the other departments will be affected due the diversion of their money to the COVID 19 outbreak.

  • We should put a temporary ban on all our international flight and border control as soon as possible. our nation will be at greater risk if we continue to allow foreigners to come. we should start now before its too late.

  • The National Security must strictly follow the directives from the national security council, and control every movement of the, city inhabitants.
    The controller, Mr. Manning and his team must now keep an open eye , thus any dwellers, inhabitants and residents who are disobedient and reluctant to follow the preventives measures and the directives from the national security council must be deal accordingly.

  • PLEASE IMPOSE A BAN ON DOMESTIC FLIGHTS ASAP… & IMPOSE COVID 19 SECURITY MEASURES STRICTLY IN POM…

  • All domestic flights in the country should be shut down asap and government intervene to minimize spreading of the disease. The deadly pandemic has eased down with most countries resuming normalcy and PNG having had the mentality of being a Christian nation and not really being mindful of practicing simple health measures, it is now a wakeup call.

  • As I have read and studied this pandemic ‘covid 19, I have predicted that it will hit hard on pacific including PNG in June and July, when media said May. I guess my prediction is right after studying several factors. My prediction was predicted during first lock down.

  • We’re not atheist, we do believe in God but how can resolve our problems if we keep on ignoring what the authorities are telling us to do.
    Is God instructing them to tell us to take precautions of the pandemic disease? Yes He is.
    Some of us are not really faith orientated but as a matter of fact we are just opportunist, trying to persuade other that God is present, no need to stumble because our life depends on God.
    Please encourage them to pray and at the same time follow the tips given by the Health authorities.
    In Jesus name, we Pray. Amen

  • We are so concerned about covid-19, rather lets concerned more on our spiritual life, because we have short time to live on earth, my good friends we must ask ourselves how far my relationship with God, People will be more concerned about their temporary lives more than the one God is offering in time to come the eternity. It’s time to fix our heart to God, Like in Daniel’s time, his friends were saved in the fiery furnace because they were all right with God, this applies to us now now.

    Blessings.

  • Philippians 4:13 strengthen you to do things.
    How will you do just practice NEWSTART
    especially T-Trust God alone because fear is the opposit of trust, and fear is a cripple. It paralyzes the inflicted one from moving forward. It produces stress, and stress is linked to many of our diseases today.

  • Instead of dieing of covid-19, some people in settlement areas are dieing for starvation and thirst, our hands is the only employer that provide for our table everyday, and the government has put a chain around it and lock it up. The only reason that people are living there premises is to hustle for food and no one can go without food and water for a week or two. I appeal for the representative members for each district to look back to your people and fene for them, you are not elected to the parliament to be a doctor or scientists, please do your job. Some of us didn’t drink water for two whole days and how can you except us to wash our hands 20× a day, we have survive without water for a month now, please water is life itself so have some heart. Little things contribute to larger problems, so be mindful and wise if you are a Leader. Morata- 2 settlement, power station.

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