Keep practicing basic hygiene

The National Editorial

WITH discussions already underway for the partial lifting of the state of emergency restrictions, we should not lose focus but continue to remind our people to practice hygiene.
Our citizens must be told again and again to continue or seriously practice the health messages of:

  • WASHING hands regularly for 20 seconds with soap and clean water;
  • Cough or sneeze into flexed elbow;
  • Do not touch mouth, nose and eyes;
  • Practise social distancing of 1.5 meters;
  • Do not go to crowded places; and
  • If you do not have a good reason to go out or move around, stay at home.

Coronavirus does not discriminate.
Many are now irritated and annoyed with the two-month SOE but fail to understand that necessary isolation is the key step to stopping the virus from spreading or entering our country.
The world is affected by this pandemic and PNG is no exception.
Covid-19 respects no national borders, no social bounds, no political systems and no cultural values.
Our trading partners are hard hit and the effect is already felt in the country.
World Health Organisation emphasise that easing restrictions is not the end of the epidemic in any country.
Ending the disease will require a sustained effort from individuals, communities and Governments to continue suppressing and controlling the deadly new coronavirus.
From WHO, so-called lockdowns can help to take the heat out of a country’s epidemic, but they cannot end it alone.
Countries must now ensure they can detect, test, isolate and care for every case, and trace every contact.
We must be sensitive in our endeavours from the possible intrusion and spread of the virus.
For now, what our people need is accurate information if we are to maintain order and for them to remain calm.
When there is no information flowing, people will be susceptible to rumours and that does not help anyone.
What our people need right now is accurate, consistent and regular information.
Last week, a councillor from Kovon local level government in Madang advised they were still waiting for the coronavirus awareness team from the Provincial Health Authority to visit them.
Obviously there is a lot of confusion there.
Let’s be honest, a lot of our people who don’t have much education are gullible to whatever information is spread and that is how panic will start.
Let’s share facts and accurate information about the coronavirus.
We should reach to all in every corner of the country.
In an age where information is mass produced and accessible at the touch of a button what the public really must have is relevant knowledge.
This information should be available to everyone for them to make sound and educated decisions such as social distancing to getting into crowded areas and the simplest reminder of personal hygiene.
While Prime Minister James Marape has announced that the Government would like to restore PNG back to normalcy at the earliest amidst the presence of Covid-19 for the rest of this year and beyond, there is no running away from Covid-19.
Let’s face reality that we should now adjust to living with Covid-19 for the rest of this year and continue to practice the health messages.