New normal to begin
By REBECCA KUKU
PRIME Minister James Marape says some state of emergency orders will be lifted or relaxed although strict measures will remain to stop the Covid-19 from entering and spreading in the country.
“We don’t want the Covid-19 virus entering the country via our borders and spreading to the urban areas,” he said.
“That is why the National Operations Centre (NOC) will remain in place after the state of emergency lapses on Tuesday (tomorrow).
“Some of the state of emergency orders will be lifted and relaxed and life will go on as normal. No police or security official will stop the rights of citizens (to do) things.”
Marape said with passing of the National Public Health Emergency Act on Friday, “the NOC will ensure work is carried out to stop the entry of the Covid-19 from the border provinces and spreading to other parts of the country”.
“The NOC will remain and operate under the new Public Health Emergency Act,” he said.
“This law is actually to help protect the people during a health emergency and can only last as it still exists in other countries, and given the need for quarantine, isolation, social distancing, etc.
“We still need to control people’s movements and we also need to control the spread if a new case emerges. And to do this, we need the controller and his team to have powers to exercise, otherwise, the spread will not be mitigated effectively.”
A new state of emergency controller would be appointed from within the public service to allow David Manning to return to his post as Police Commissioner.
Marape said new legislation was drafted by local lawyers and health experts to protect the country if or when the Covid-19 re-enters and when the emergency orders are relaxed after the state of emergency ends.
He urged everyone to continue practising social distancing, personal hygiene and follow the Coviud-19 prevention rules.
“The new law is to protect the country and not to disguise it for benefits by some group of people or the Government. It was designed to protect our citizens,” Marape said.
Manning said the ban on international flights, closure of the borders and security operations would continue. He said the controller would make appropriate changes and new orders “in situations that arise in consultation with agencies including the provincial control centres”.
6 comments
And what about all transportation services through the country, will they applying for the same fee or will back to normal,, most. Of us the students where spending too much for bus fee.
ICCC needs to regulate the prices of good and services back to normal.
Sir, can your actually point out what will be uplifted and what not? Everyone is still in suspense
The lock down must still continue cause PNG is far from ready if the Virus comes.
ICCC must maintain their duties to control the increse in the price of goods and services in the country
Concerning about the bus fare and goods prices. Will they be decrease to normal or continue to be like this. The business houses and PMV owners are taking advantage of this and many people are suffering now.
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