Covid-19 remains a threat to country, says economist

By PETER ESILA
PREVENTING, constraining, managing and moving on from the Covid-19 pandemic remains critical this year, says an economist.
PNG Institute of National Affairs director Paul Barker said despite the Covid-19 not causing a high number of deaths in the country, its capacity to mutate and pose a major threat to the country was ever present.
“Even before any vaccine reaches these shores, the need for vigilance and capacity must be sustained and enhanced for future new respiratory or other contagious diseases,” he said.
He said spikes last December, most notably in West New Britain and the appearance overseas of more infectious strains of the virus highlighted the need for sustained vigilance, prevention measures, monitoring the science and early access to vaccines and treatment if PNG authorities were to safeguard citizens and help open the economy, trade and travel in the near future.
Barker said the Covid-19’s arrival in PNG last year almost coincided with that of the African Swine Fever, a killer disease for pigs.
“PNG has also had multiple plant and animal pests and diseases arriving over recent years threatening industries, livelihoods and food security.
“Vigilance of land, sea and air borders must be reinforced as well as capacity to respond quickly in each case.
The appearance of Covid-19 in PNG last year forced the closure of international borders which seemingly forestalled a surge in cases and enabled the country’s long neglected health service to undertake some awareness and preparation for testing, controls and potential treatment.
The initial lockdown last April and subsequent curfew, tested institutional capacity and the social response and economic impact.
“With the severe shortfall in revenue, burgeoning debt and debt servicing costs (debt to gross domestic product of 51 per cent and debt servicing reaching K2.3 billion or 13 per cent of 2019 expenditure) and lacking wide financial inclusion, reliable data or social protection systems, it was recognised that interventions to safeguard businesses, jobs and household welfare, as applied in developed countries, would have limited effectiveness in PNG,” Barker said.