Health, economy under strain

THE national economy and the country’s health system are feeling the strain of the Covid-19 pandemic, as eight new cases yesterday took the total to 27, says Prime Minister James Marape.
“We will do our absolute best to protect the country from a pandemic.
“Right now, we are not able to say or pinpoint where the hot spot areas are.
“But all the new 18 cases are in the National Capital District,” he said.
He said the country was in the “Level-Three alert” phase where community transmission of the Covid-19 could be happening and new clusters emerged.
They can be controlled through testing and contact tracing.
Marape said the “scientific community” would meet today to discuss new measures to be put in place.
There is a high probability of a continued community transmission in Port Moresby. There is also a high probability of transmission in the border provinces.
He said as of July 20 “we have tested 8,910 persons on polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
There were 8,891 samples collected, out of which 8,866 were negative and 82 awaiting results.

People of Oro warned to take health precaution

The people of Oro have been urged to observe Covid-19 health safety measures following the recent surge in cases in Port Moresby.
Acting provincial administrator Trevor Magei made the call because of the proximity of the province to the capital city.
“I call on the people of Oro to continue to comply with the Covid-19 measures including social distancing, washing of hands and checking of temperature, particularly in Popondetta,” Magei said.
“The Covid-19 taskforce team will be restricting areas that have been relaxed when the state of emergency was lifted. This is to minimise the spread of coronavirus since there are two flights per day from Port Moresby.”
Magei said the provincial Covid-19 task force team had plans which were activated when the state of emergency was announced. They lifted the restrictions to allow freedom of movement.
“We are on standby for any instructions from the controller on what action would be taken,” he said.
Meanwhile Magei said an isolation ward had been completed and available if there was a reported case in the province.
He said the schools, shopping centres and health facilities were continuing to observe health measures.
“I will be sending out officers to monitor some shopping centres that have not been observing the measures,” Magei said.

Uni student may have got virus from father

A FEMALE university student who tested positive for the Covid-19 may have contacted the virus from her father who tested positive recently in Port Moresby.
University of PNG vice-chancellor Prof Frank Griffin said the father was one of the health workers who tested positive in the past week.
“This confirms that community transmission of Covid-19 is now happening in the country,” Griffin said in an email to university staff and students yesterday.
He told The National that UPNG would conduct contact tracing with persons of interest. Because she is a residential student at the university, Griffin said her roommate and colleagues living in the same block would be advised on what to do if they showed the Covid-19 symptoms.
“I have also spoken to Prof Chalapan Kaluwin, the acting dean of the School of Natural and Physical Sciences to contact the student’s lecturers and speak to her course mates and advise them about reporting to the Rita Flynn facility to be tested if they feel ill or are showing Covid-19 symptoms,” he said.
Griffin said the UPNG Council would meet soon to decide on steps to take in the case of a Covid-19 outbreak.
“(She) contracted it outside of the university,” Griffin said. “There is nothing to be alarmed about. We will allow for the normal processes of testing and screening for Covid-19 to be done,” he said.

Hospital remains open but some services scaled down

NO employees of the Port Moresby General Hospital has been tested positive for the Covid-19 and the hospital remains open, says chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi.
Molumi was responding to claims that the hospital was shutting down.
He said the country’s largest hospital was only scaling down some services so that some cleaning-up could be carried out as part of its infection control measures.
A crowd had gathered at the hospital gate yesterday morning seeking medical attention.
He said the scaling down of service was necessary after workers at the Central Public Health Laboratory located in the hospital tested positive for Covid-19. In addition, a woman who died from breast cancer last Monday had also tested positive for Covid-19.
“All hospital clinical services and related services have been scaled down indefinitely and the situation is closely monitored,” he said.
He said pathology, surgical and consultation clinic services would be affected.
“Urgent tests such as cross match and blood transfusion services would be maintained.
“All elective surgical cases are on hold in definitely.
“Emergency surgeries will continue in both general and specialty surgical operations as well as obstetrics and gynecology emergencies.
“Consultation clinics are reduced to no more than 15 patients per clinic.”
Molumi said staff in essential services such as radiology, TB clinics, dental, antenatal, physiotherapy, social work, oncology and general support service were urged to maintain new normal practices.
“It is mandatory for all staff and anyone that comes into the hospital to wear masks and disinfect their hands regularly.”