Ambulance concern about rise of Covid-19 cases in Central

THE St John Ambulance is concerned about the increase in ambulance call-outs to Central, – with eight within 24 hours, says chief executive officer Matt Cannon.
“While eight patients seem small, it is double our normal case load,” he said.
“Each case takes an ambulance crew between three to eight hours per patient.
“We are seeing a small rise in (Coronavirus) Covid-19 cases in Central, Lae and the National Capital District.
“(Overall) in the past 24 hours, we have responded to 70 emergencies in Papua New Guinea.”
On Saturday afternoon, Cannon said the eight patients were transported from Central by ambulance in a space of 24 hours.
He said three of the patients were positive Covid-19 cases and two were respiratory cases (suspected Covid-19).
Of the 18 emergency Covid-19 cases, 11 were from the NCD, three each from Lae and Central, and one from Kundiawa.
The Central administration had planned to declare a lockdown last week but did not go ahead with it.
Of the 56 patients admitted at the Nightingale Covid-19 Centre at Taurama, 25 were mild, 30 moderate and one classified as severe.
Prime Minister James Marape yesterday again urged those yet to get the Covid-19 vaccine to do so quickly as it will protect them if they contract the virus.