Apply measures to curb infections

THE National’s front page story on Friday “Strain on facilities” is serious and should not be taken lightly.
And Dr Gary Nou from the Rita Flynn isolation facility is right, Port Moresby figures cannot go beyond 1,000 cases – the curve should be flatten.
Statistics for PNG is heading towards 200 cases.
The Rita Flynn facility had 50 beds.
The facility can accommodate 76 beds, possibly stretched to 100 if need be but it could not exceed that.
So, 1,000 cases is too much.
If the number of cases were to increase every day; there would be about 1,000 cases in Port Moresby by the end of August.
The spread can be slowed, public health professionals say, if people practice social distancing by avoiding public spaces and generally limiting their movement.
We need to slow down the spread so that not many people are at the hospital at the same time.
Dr Nou said everyone shouldwork at slowing the spread so that we don’t have hospitals overwhelmed, and he is right.
Studies showed that people were mainly catching the Covid-19 through larger respiratory droplets when they were close to an infected person or when these droplets fell on a surface that they then touch, rather than the virus hanging out in the air.
The coronavirus will not move unless people move it.
When we stop moving, the virus stops moving.
Other measures our Government should now take, especially in Port Moresby, is the shutting down venues where large numbers of people gather, for example closing schools and educational institutes.
The UN estimates that about 87 per cent of those enrolled in education around the world have been affected by school and college closures.
The Covid-19 pandemic is far more than a health crisis: it is affecting societies and economies at their core.
While the impact of the pandemic will vary from country to country, it will most likely increase poverty and inequalities at a global scale, making achievement of SDGs even more urgent.
Every step that we take in this process will be a relief to some and a cause of disappointment or concern to others.
The social, and economic effects of this crisis are substantial.
But it is unavoidable that many people will be affected to some extent.
In PNG restrictions have also led to job losses and a drastic fall in incomes.
This has disproportionately affected a higher proportion of households that are already disadvantaged, both economically and socially.
The poor cannot stock up on food and have no savings for emergencies, so without work, there is no money.
This translates to thousands of informal enterprises and livelihoods lost. Most people struggle to meet daily needs in ordinary times, so it is extremely hard for households to cope for weeks or even months without a regular income.
Poor diet and nutrition weakens the body’s natural defence system and leave the poor and disadvantaged susceptible to disease.
Without urgent socio-economic responses, our peoples suffering will escalate, jeopardising lives and livelihoods for years to come.
But for now, the urgent need in Port Moresby is for the curve to be flattened.
And this can be achieved if people practice washing hands, wearing mask and maintain social distancing.
Without any measures to slow it down, the Covid-19 will continue to spread exponentially for months.