Be vigilant, says Esorom

NATIONAL Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says Papua New Guineans must continue to remain vigilant against the threat of the Coronovirus (Covid-19) to public health.
“Continue to wear face masks in pubic indoor areas,” he said in a media statement.
“The threat is coming from the new Covid-19 Omicron sub-variants (BA.4 and BA.5) which are becoming more transmissible and has the potential to evade the human immune system.
“Cases of the new Omicron sub-variants are rising fast globally.
“We must, therefore, take precautions.”
Esorom said with the low vaccination rates and testing in Papua New Guinea (PNG), the people must practice public health safety measures.
“Face masks, hand hygiene, staying at home when ill, testing yourself when symptoms are present, physically distancing, all these measures are not new to us,” he added.
“The reproductive rate, which is defined as the ability of one positive case to infect other people for BA.4 and BA.5, in some studies is now found to be 18.6.
“This is similar to the measles virus high infection rate.”
Esorom said the Niupla Pasin measures, if thoroughly observed, could significantly reduce the chances of infection or spreading of the Covid-19.
PNG’s Covid-19 update as of Monday was 44,761 confirmed cases and the death toll is 662.
More than 281,558 people have been fully vaccinated and more than 340,894 people have been vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine.