New control measures released

The National Main Stories

PAPUA New Guinea National Pandemic Controller and Police Comm David Manning has released 13 new control measures following a briefing with Prime Minister James Marape on Thursday. The notable changes are:

  • PASSENGERS aged five and below are no longer required to be tested prior to entering PNG;
  • PASSENGERS who have been fully vaccinated and travel from a low to medium risk country are eligible for seven days quarantine and home quarantine; and,
  • PRIVATE health facilities, including the extraction industry, are included as eligible to administer vaccines, but only under the coordination/Memorandum of Understanding of their Provincial Health Authority to adhere to recording and reporting requirements and persons vaccinating are registered health workers.

According to a media statement issued by the Controller, the previous Measure 13 has been revoked and the requirement not to test prior to domestic travel is now included within Measure 3. Comm Manning said all citizens must comply with the measures which are aimed at mitigating the spread of the Covid-19. He said measures that required the public’s full support and cooperation include Measure 9 on Business and Social, Measure 10 on National Mandatory Mask Wearing and Measure 11 on National Public Transport Measures. He said for PNG to come out of the pandemic, public cooperation was very important in observing the requirements within all the measures and especially the requirements in business and social, mandatory mask wearing and the requirements for public transportation. The following are some of the requirements under measure 9, Business and Social:

  • ALL businesses, social venues, markets, shopping centres, schools, educational institutions and places of worship must comply with the Niupela Pasin (New Normal) guidelines for the duration of the pandemic;
  • AN immediate ban is placed on gatherings of over 10 people;
  • VENUES or parts of venues must immediately close for the duration of the Pandemic that provide nightclub and pub activities and services or sell and supply alcohol for consumption without food, except restaurants;
  • VENUES or parts of venues that operate a restaurant or for food consumption on premises may operate subject to ensuring that all persons on entry and exit from venues must wash their hands with soap or hand sanitiser and they must follow all other hygiene standards as issued by the Controller;
  • VENUES or parts of venues that provide gambling activities and services may open if they ensure strict adherence to the Covid-19 safety guidelines issued by the Controller in relation to operating a gambling activity and service; and,
  • NO licensed premises shall sell takeaway alcohol on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, except restaurants that may continue to serve alcohol as regulated by their liquor licence.

Comm Manning said it had been brought to his attention that certain businesses were conveniently disregarding the control measures or interpreting them to suit their own interests. “The measures are very clear and should be easily understood by all. Furthermore, on the enforcement of these orders, the provincial police commands are expected to issue specific supporting directives to policemen nationwide so as to ensure they are enforcing compliance without causing any inconvenience to the public,” he added. The measures will continue to be reviewed and amended as required.