Manning says no new cases so far

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By REBECCA KUKU
STATE of emergency controller David Manning says there is no evidence, 18 days after the first Covid-19 case was confirmed, to suggest that the virus has been transmitted here.
He said 110 tests done on those who came into contact with the “confirmed case” had “negative” results.
Manning, the Police Commissioner, said the confirmed case had been contained to a level where authorities could respond with a level of confidence.
“But we have passed the 14-day incubation period, with no signs of transmission,” he said.
“We will continue for another seven days just to be sure.”
Manning said members of the security forces were tracking down the Harmony Gold Mine driver who had transported the “confirmed case” and 15 others to the mine in a bus from Lae.
He will be brought in for testing once found.
“We will also continue testing and monitoring. Just because the one confirmed case has left our shores doesn’t mean we will stop. Our efforts will extend beyond the 21 days of contact tracing,” he said.
Manning said rapid response teams had been sent out to border provinces to prevent Covid-19 entering the country.
Meanwhile, 4,000 test kits arrived yesterday and will be distributed around the country, says acting Health Secretary Paison Dakulala.
Dakulala said so far, 200 personal protection equipment had been sent out to provinces.
“We are ensuring that we procure more PPEs,” he said.


Controller issues first five emergency orders

David Manning

THE state of emergency controller and Police Commissioner David Manning has issued the first five emergency orders on the state of emergency to be implemented immediately. They are the:

  • International and Domestic Travel: Detailing the point of entry to PNG and travel restrictions within the country. It outlines the restriction and movement of persons, cargo, airplanes, vessels, trucks and what will be exempted;
  • Business and social gatherings: Outlining the conduct of business operations and socials events during the national emergency period. It allows the controller or an authorised officer to implement measures to maintain normal business operations, ensure social distancing and the practising of self-hygiene by everyone;
  • Provincial coordination: Setting up the provincial coordination teams and appointing provincial administrators as authorised officers according to the emergency laws. For the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, the Chief Secretary of the Autonomous Region of Bougainville is the authorised officer;
  • Continuance of public utility services: All essentials public utility services such as electricity, water, sewerage and garbage, postal services, telecommunications, fire service and motor vehicle licensing to operate as effectively as possible during the national emergency period;
  • Government employee protection: That all Government employees to continue being paid during the state of emergency period.

“I hereby issue these orders for immediate implementation and expect that they be adhered to,” Manning said.


Covid-19 sampling to begin in cities, towns

By REBECCA KUKU
HEALTH authorities will start Covid-19 sampling in Port Moresby, Lae and the border towns of Vanimo, Wewak, Kuinga and Daru, says acting Health Secretary Paison Dakulala.
Dakulala said they had started training and setting up facilities to conduct 1,000 tests per day in Port Moresby and Lae.
“Targeted sampling is an important initiative and is part of what we want to do in terms of (conducting) tests in the country,” he said.
“We will start with the hot spots in Port Moresby and Lae so we can monitor Covid-19 transmission. We have already implemented pre-triage areas in health facilities, with the primary function of analysing case definition and linking it with contact tracing.
“This will be done by the rapid response team and all tests will be done in controlled settings.”
The Rita Flynn Courts in Port Moresby has been prepared as an isolation ward if there is an outbreak. This will be used for mild-to-moderate patients.
“We are also setting up isolation facilities around the country. We are training our teams and setting up facilities in Vanimo, Wewak, Kuinga and Daru.”


Marape warns citizens to respect lockdown rules

Women selling handicraft at Top Town in Lae packing their items as a policeman approaches. Deputy controller of state of emergency Northern-End division Peter Guinness has appealed to people to stop such activities until further notice to keep out the coronavirus. – Nationalpic by LARRY ANDREW

By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape has warned that any citizen caught crossing the borders with Indonesia or Australia should not come crying to the government for help.
“Any of you who wishes to cross to the other side (should know that) our government has made it illegal already,” he said.
“And if police on the other side pick you up and lock you, don’t cry to our government asking to be bailed out.
“Illegal crossers from Australia and Indonesia will also be arrested and charged for defying PNG’s state of emergency (regulations).
“I have already spoken to the Australian Prime Minister (Scott Morrison) and will be talking to the President of Indonesia (Joko Widodo) so that our joint borders will be given protection on our side as well as on their side.
“I will also be asking Police, Customs and Immigration officials in Indonesia and Australia to tighten border security both on land and sea.”
Marape said that there was no reason for any citizen to be crossing borders during the lockdown.
He also called on the state of emergency controller David Manning to ensure that no one crosses borders.


Cabinet to discuss lockdown extension

By REBECCA KUKU
CABINET is expected to meet today to discuss whether to extend the 14-day state of emergency, before the special sitting of Parliament tomorrow.
As the country enters its 10th day of lockdown following the confirmation of a Covid-19 case in Lae, there is no evidence that the coronavirus is in the country.
Parliament will tomorrow discuss the national emergency and formalise its declaration as required under the Constitution.
State of emergency controller and Police Commissioner David Manning said it was not a time to be complacent as rapid response teams were sent to Vanimo, Wewak, and Daru to conduct random tests.
Manning warned that those caught crossing the border with Indonesia would be dealt with.
“The greatest risk in importing the Covid-19 would be at the borders. So for the next couple of days, we will send security officers to guard our borders,” he said.
“At the same time, the rapid response teams will conduct random tests in the border provinces to establish whether Covid-19 has been imported.”
Manning said they were working with the governors of East and West Sepik in monitoring the situation along the borders.
“There have been reports of incursions across the borders and we also thank them for monitoring and reporting it.”
Manning said it would be irresponsible for Papua New Guineans to be crossing the border for business, thus putting the nation at risk.
“If you are caught by Indonesian authorities crossing illegally to their side, you will be dealt with by them.”

4 comments

  • Two weeks state of emergency is not enough to counter and combat the Coronavirus. Extend the emergency for another week or two just to ensure the country is 100% safe for now. Imagine another new case is reported and confirmed the government may look at another emergency/lockdown again. Many would not agree with this suggestion but it is good for the country and the people in the long run.

  • Thank you our hard-working and tireless government. Please if you lift the state of emergency all our borders, international flights and ships must be mornitored 24/7 until the virus ends worldwide. It’s also good to extend another seven days to confirm virus free in png.

  • I think PNG should lockdown almost a month, the developed nations with batter health facilities have lockdown for month and more,PNG we need to take extra precoation, anyway preventation is batter than cure…………

  • I commend the Government on its current initiatives and its rapid response even though we have so far registered only one case.

    But may I add one more line to the seemingly endless chores of good praises and negative comments.

    There continues to be flagrant breaches of the Government Lock-Down Laws in the Country. It is on the lower end of the societies where the Human populations actual exists that the massive in-country endemic of high risk will start or is actually at.

    This is where we need the authorities to be tough and come down hard. For instance;

    1. Betelnuts and dakas are still being sold broad day in public;
    2. Social cohesion in multiple to large cases are being seen happening in broad daylight everywhere;
    3. Stores selling liqueurs (beer & hardstuff);
    4. Movement of motor vehicles on highways next to being normal;
    5. No ban on sale of fresh animal meat including fish and its consumption in public; and
    6. No ban on consumption of food cooked out doors and sold to the public.

    These are some of the flimsiest and most easiest ways where the transmission of the COVID-19, can accelerate and bring a large number of a society down, even in a space of three weeks.

    The Police and hopefully the Army needs to come down hard and fast on these areas.

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