Large gatherings banned in EHP

The National National

LARGE gatherings will not be allowed throughout this year’s general election campaigning period in Eastern Highlands to avoid a Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, Covid-19 provincial controller John Gimiseve says.
“While exercising their democratic rights to vote, voters and leaders must also be mindful of the Covid-19 threat and risks,” he said.
Gimiseve said the provincial Covid-19 committee met last Monday and decided on the following measures to be implemented during general election:

  • RESTRICTION on the sale of alcohol;
  • NO campaign houses;
  • NO large groups to escort candidates for nomination and convoy of vehicles restricted to three with no overcrowding;
  • IMPLEMENTATION of the new normal protocol (washing or sanitise hands, wearing mask and physical distancing) during polling and counting; and,
  • AWARENESS on these measures to be conducted from now to Friday. Gimiseve said these measures were consistent with the pandemic order dated Feb 16 under the Pandemic Act.

He said mitigation on the outbreak of the Covid-19 was everyone’s business.
Provincial Covid-19 secretariat coordinator Tonny Basse said the statistics in the province showed an increase from February to March with 14 Omicron variant cases reported.
“The number has subsided but with mass movement of people, the risk remains high,” he said.
“People can oppose this but they must remember that we have had the worst experience (last year).”