Covid-19 facility to open

THE Rita Flynn Covid-19 facility will be opened from next week to cater for the increase in the Covid-19 cases in Port Moresby, an official says.
National Capital District (NCD) Governor Powes Parkop said the decision was made to relieve any extra burden on the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH).
Nine of the 11 beds in the hospital are already occupied by Covid-19 patients – four severe cases, four moderate and one asymptomatic.
“We will reopen Rita Flynn (which was closed in November) because the PMGH might be overwhelmed very soon,” he said.
“From January to (yesterday), we have 65 confirmed cases (from 450 swabs taken).
“So that’s a sudden increase.
“It is incumbent on all of us to prevent the spread of the virus.”
National Capital District Health Authority acting chief executive officer Ken Wai said they were discussing with the PNG Sports Foundation the amount they still owed on the use of the facility.
“We have a Covid-19 steering committee in the city consisting of our senior doctors from the health authority and Port Moresby General Hospital,” he said.
The health authority will do away with the tents and set up permanent structures at the facility.
Wai said there were other public health issues and diseases which also needed to be addressed.
So it is important to get Covid-19 response established in the healthcare system as soon as possible.