Many active cases: Doc

By LULU MARK
THERE are still many active Covid-19 cases throughout PNG as the cumulative infections rose to 16,791 with 63 new cases on Monday, Covid-19 Pandemic Response Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom says.
“The six provinces that reported new cases were Manus with 29, Western Highlands and East New Britain with 12 each, Milne Bay with eight, Hela and the National Capital District (NCD) with one case each.
“The death toll at 165 is one per cent, total recovered cases 16,132 (96 per cent) and the total active cases in the last 21 days is 494 (three per cent). Close to 67 per cent of the newly reported cases are from two weeks to a month ago,” he said, adding that delays in receiving reports from provincial health authorities and testing facilities remained a concern.
“Deaths are reported only upon receipt of death certificates and case information forms (CIF),” Esorom said.
He said Chimbu, Southern Highlands, Northern, Jiwaka, Milne Bay, Gulf and Hela remained the least reporting provinces.
Esorom said 129,252 tests were completed for the Covid-19 and 281 tests were pending laboratory results.
He warned that there was still wide community transmission of the virus and people should observe the control measures.