Covid-19 cases at PMGH drop but may increase again, says doctor

By LULU MARK
THE number of Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has slightly dropped, but it may go up again given the reluctance of some to get vaccinated, a doctor says.
PMGH director of medical service Dr Kone Sobi said currently there were about 160 Covid-19 patients admitted, including around 40 at the Nightingale Covid-19 centre in Taurama. Of those, 144 require oxygen.
“Right now, the positivity rate is about 50 per cent (compared to) three weeks ago when we were hitting 85 per cent positivity rate,” he said.
He suspects that last week could have been the “middle of the surge” and now our detection rate is slowly coming down, he said.
“But it’s not coming down as fast as we would like it to be.
“I appeal to (people) to adhere to the Niupela Pasin – wear a mask, sanitise/wash hands and avoid social/mass gatherings.
“These interventions together with vaccinations can improve our recovery rate.” Dr Sobi said from models and experience, surges usually last between 10 and 12 weeks.
“This surge began towards the end of September – nearly seven weeks ago,” he said.
“We are somewhere in the middle of the surge and I think from the testing result, we have turned the corner and on the plateau towards going down.”
He said our “weak health system” had been badly exposed.