Controller: Do not sensationalise Covid-19

NATIONAL Pandemic Controller David Manning has cautioned foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) not to sensationalise the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic in Papua New Guinea.
He told The National that he had concerns over the continued sensationalist assertions by a foreign NGO that ignored the real context of the pandemic in PNG.
Manning raised the concern following what he called an “irresponsible claim” by an NGO that the country could be the next place where a new strain of the Covid-19 emerged.
His comments came after an Australian newspaper, reported that “the next variant of the Covid-19 to sweep the world could emerge on Australia’s doorstep-due to incredibly low rates of vaccination in Papua New Guinea”.
“A new strain can emerge in any country, just as when the Alpha strain was identified in the United Kingdom,” Manning said.