Another outbreak expected

THE country should expect another Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak in about six months, according to deputy national pandemic response controller Dr Daoni Esorom.
Esorom said this was predicted by the Health Department’s trekking tools and system, and that there were plans to address it if it happened.
“Preparations for post-pandemic response will be done based on what (impacts) previous outbreaks left on health, security, border control, coordination and partnership with stakeholders,” he said.
Esorom said they planned to ensure that the country remained focused on its Covid-19 response.
“A new variant could be detected but where it would come from depends on countries (passing on) the information to the gene of sequence,” he said.
Esorom said the expected variant could also be detected in other countries and it could have an impact on PNG.
He said the post-pandemic response could take about two years to put in place strategies on preparations for the next surge.
Esorom said their preparations were not only for the pandemic but other epidemics that could arise.