High risk of virus entering PNG: Official

The National National

By LULU MARK
THERE is a high risk of the coronavirus (Covid-2019) entering Papua New Guinea and a national emergency response plan has been developed to specifically deal with the risk, acting Health secretary Dr Paison Dakulala says.
He said part of the plan included the ramping up of surveillance at the ports of entry, the setting up of a 24-hour emergency operation centre with a hotline, making of flyers and advisory on the coronavirus, engaging of Institute of Medical Research (IMR) to conduct tests and the establishment of isolation facility at the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH).
Dakulala said 600 to 700 passengers and crew were screened at the Jackson International Airport daily and so far five suspected cases were tested at the IMR in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, but all were negative for the coronavirus.
He said with all these systems in place and coordinated efforts from Government agencies the country would be able to handle Covid-19.

One thought on “High risk of virus entering PNG: Official”

  • At least this is satisfactory, however to go one step ahead, every passenger traveling into the country from all Asian countries should be quarantined for 2 weeks, the incubation period if symptoms can be developed over that timed. And if within that time if antibodies are not present than they can be cleared to return.

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