Morobe prepares resources for use in Covid-19 response

By GLORIA BAUAI
AUTHORITIES in Morobe have summoned all public servants and any resources under their control such as equipment and facilities to be on standby to for use in the province’s Coronavirus (Covid-19) response.
This is part of nine new provincial measures that were effective as of last Monday, following an surge in Covid-19 cases in the province.
Morobe health authority chief executive officer Kipas Binga said the provincial Covid-19 ward in Lae had recorded at least six Covid-19 deaths over the last two weeks.
“I don’t have all the updates, but right now, we have about 17 or so patients currently at the stadium (Covid-19 facility), about four of who are on full-time oxygen and others on intermediate oxygen,” he said.
“We’ve confirmed two Delta variant cases in the last batch of tests.”
The provincial emergency response team expects a surge of cases following Independence Anniversary celebrations last month.
Dr Binga said Highlands provinces such as Eastern Highlands had reported a concerning increase in Covid-19 cases last month, which increased Morobe’s risk of a surge.
“We are preparing ourselves for the worst possible times ahead of us,” he said. “Although nobody really knows what will happen, we just work with whatever resources we have and together we can combat.
“The Covid-19 measures are very clear; if we comply, we can at least have some control of what’s happening before our eyes.
“Part of the measure is to wear masks and hand sanitise in all public places and the general population while government employees and business houses are strongly urged to have their employees vaccinated.”
Lae MP John Rosso encouraged everyone to abide by the measures.
“We’re trying as much as possible to allow businesses to operate as freely as possible; so our biggest advice is mask up, practise the new normal measures and get vaccinated,” he said.