Briefs
Containment phase
The Kiunga Hospital in Western is in containment phase – conducting preparedness and triaging on everybody entering the hospital. The provincial health authority office told The National that following the confirmation of the three cases there, a team from the national level was deployed to the province to assist with contact-tracing and other preventative measures including the decision to rollout “containment phase”.
Tourism woes
ADVENTURE Kokoda general-manager Tau Maguli called on the Government to look into taking a step forward in assessing the issue on hand and resume tourism in Papua New Guinea for the benefit of the people and businesses in the country. Maguli was concerned about how the Covid-19 has affected 90 per cent of the population in Papua New Guinea in the tourism sector.
Data base installed
A data base has been installed at the Northern health authority’s coronavirus pandemic response centre to track, manage, monitor, identify and understand the happenings within the province and outside. Northern Governor Gary Juffa said: “This is a plus for provinces like Northern where it has a modern data base facility to assist those who are involved in the fight against coronavirus pandemic, especially when the Covid-19 is already in the country.
Travel cautioned
NORTHERN police commander Supt Michael Welly cautions people travelling by boat between Morobe and Northern to stop for the remaining weeks of the state of emergency. “I will be strict with people travelling into Northern from other provinces as we do not want the Covid-19 to enter our province,” Supt Welly said.
K800,000 for WNB
ABOUT K800,000 has been allocated to West New Britain for its Covid-19 response. According to the office of the provincial health authority, the provincial government had allocated K600,000 and the Health Department gave another K200,000.
Parliament lockdown
PARLIAMENT is still under lockdown and continuing to observe social distancing and will not be open to the public, acting Clerk Kala Aufa says. Aufa, in response to concerns raised about ministerial and MP staff being unable to get in because of the lockdown explained that this was still the state of emergency period.
Trukai secures land
Trukai Industries has partnered agencies such as the Department of Agriculture and Livestock (DAL), National Agriculture Research Institute, Fresh Produce Development Agency, Taiwan Technical Mission and Women in Agriculture to develop 20 hectares land for Covid-19 food security project in Morobe. Trukai farm manager at Erap, Daniel Nanape, said Trukai’s support for the Covid-19 seed multiplication project came about when its CEO gave the okay for support through machineries and equipment.
Wait for equipment
THE West Sepik health authority (PHA) is still waiting medical equipment before it can start using the pre-triage facility. According to the PHA: “Sites have been identified for isolation units in the two major health facilities within Aitape-Lumi, Raihu District Hospital and Lumi health centre.”
Company supports
The Lae Biscuit Company continues to support frontliners during the Covid-19 state of emergency in the country. Recently, another K200,000 worth of Lae Biscuit products, Toti Biscuit and Snax Noodles, were delivered to the “Sapotim Wantok Foundation” led by Prime Minister James Marape. Another recipient of Lae Biscuit support in Madang recently was a volunteer group, Madang Arts Maniacs (MAM), who are heading Madang awareness campaign on the Covid-19. MAM’s Robert Banasi said being a group depending solely on volunteers, MAM was thankful to Lae Biscuit.
Radio gets donation
The Lae Biscuit Company has donated cartons of biscuit and noodles to support the work of the Lae media in collaboration with the Kristen Radio Station of the Lutheran church in carrying out ongoing awareness. Enga students attending Unitech also received food support from Lae Biscuit.