Patient wants to be moved from home

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BY REBECCA KUKU
THE 40-year-old woman who tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday is calling on the Government to move her out of her family home and into a proper isolation center.
Joanne Veronica Schulz from Raluana in East New Britain, who asked that her name be made public, said she was disappointed because her fellow villagers were being exposed to the virus and “paying the price” for her isolation in the community.
She is the second confirmed Covid-19 case in the country.
“The Government must fast-track the setting up of the isolation center (in ENB) so that I can be moved there and isolated,” she said.
“Right now, (construction) is still in progress. So I am being isolated at home. And it’s unfair on the people. With not enough awareness, they are afraid that someone who is Covid-19 positive is living among them.”
She also fears that the villagers may turn on her and her family.
“There is so much confusion and the whole village is in lockdown because of me, because the Government doesn’t have a facility to isolate me in.”
She said she had been a volunteer in the health sector for more than five years, creating awareness and nursing HIV and TB patients who lacked caregivers.
“I’ve cleaned hospital toilets and raised funds for their meals. And when the Covid-19 outbreak came, we didn’t wait for Government funding,” she said.

State of emergency controller David Mannning issued new emergency orders on Tuesday.

“With support from local businesses, we printed posters and carried out awareness where we could. And somewhere along the line, I got hit with Covid-19.”
She said she would deal with it.
“I can deal with the stigmatisation. My heartache now is my people who are scared because I am been isolated in the village with them,” she said.
“And when fear creeps in, that’s where stigmatising starts.”
She thanks her family for their support and for standing by her.
“My heartfelt thanks also to business houses and friends who have supplied Raluana with rations and kind during this lockdown. I appreciate it and I thank you all,” she said.
Schulz said she hoped that by telling her story in public, authorities would conduct more awareness and address the stigma issue not only against Covid-19 but also HIV, Tuberculosis and other diseases.


Three MPs, 306 citizens stranded overseas

By REBECCA KUKU
THREE MPs are among the 306 Papua New Guineans stranded overseas and want to return home.
Police Minister Bryan Kramer, speaking on behalf of Prime Minister James Marape, said the PNG citizens had gone overseas for business, study, holidays or to visit family members living overseas.
“We are still tracking the number of Papua New Guineans overseas. So far 306 have registered to come back,” he said.
The records show that 116 are in Australia, 64 prisoners in Indonesia, 13 in Singapore, 12 in Malaysia, one in Japan, four in Thailand, four in Fiji, one in Solomon Islands, four in New Caledonia, one in Vanuatu, one in Spain, one in Paris, 11 in Philippines and a few in the United Kingdom.
Kramer said they would facilitate their return home.
He also said Marape and business houses were discussing the possibility of allocating a hotel where citizens returning home could be quarantined.
“The hotel will be re-fenced with security and medical personnel to ensure they serve out their 14 days. Then they will be tested again twice before being released (if tested negative). The details are still been worked out at this stage.”
The three MPs are understood to be Peter O’Neill, Wesley Raminai and Sir Mekere Morauta.

 


No Covid-19 experts in country, says Kramer

Buang LLG reserve police officer Thomas Maso with Bulolo MP and Sam Basil (right) inspecting the PMVs to ensure 15 passengers are on board and all must wash their hands. – Nationalpic by LARRY ANDREW

POLICE Minister Bryan Kramer says there is no expert in the country to speak on Covid-19 as it is a new virus.
Kramer, representing Prime Minister James Marape on Covid-19 matters, told reporters yesterday the only people considered knowledgeable on Covid-19 matters were those from countries severely affected by the virus such as Italy, China, and the United States.
“We (Government) can’t bring you an expert because this is a new virus,” he said.
“Scientists and medical professionals are learning as we go. So that’s for the benefit for the people and viewers who are asking.”
On why he as police minister was giving updates on Covid-19 matters, Kramer said “this is a state of emergency”.
“I make it my business to go around and be informed, read up-to-date information, watch multiple channels of BBC, Fox, the ABC where they invite expert scientists, medical doctors to give their opinions (on Covid-19).
“I get updates from all those channels. Therefore I can come and update the public and our viewers.”
Kramer clarified that sometimes the Minister for Health and HIV/Aids Jelta Wong would not be available to brief the media as he could be tied up with other matters.
He said even Marape could not afford to come every day at 4pm for the briefing.
“As a prime minister you are in charge of the country you have multiple tasks and issues to deal with every single day and every night,” Kramer said.
“He goes to sleep very late at night and wakes up early in the morning. And he is a man of faith.”


 

Marape considering cuts in salary, allowance for MPs

By REBECCA KUKU
Prime Minister James Marape has indicated that MPs may face cuts in their salaries and allowances, according to Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
He revealed this when The National questioned whether the Government would consider pay cuts for MPs.
Kramer said there should infact be general cost-cutting exercise on the public service “by 25 per cent to save billions of Kina”.
“Our problem is to use the money properly. Sending hundreds and millions of kina down to the provinces is not going to be a solution,” he said.
“So unlike in the past, we won’t be just throwing money everywhere and end up being questioned on how these funds were spent. It also provides a great opportunity for people to steal.
“But money and funding is critical so hospitals can function and provide health services and buy the equipment they need.”
He said they were having a meeting with Marape every day.
“It’s a priority of his. It’s a long process. There’s a treasury process, goes to Finance and then it goes to Central Bank and then the funds are released and then it goes down to the province.”
He said Marape had tasked all ministers “to get the job done”.
MPs are paid at least K12,000 a fortnight. Cabinet ministers, governors and MPs appointed to various offices receive more.


Universities want to start classes next Tuesday

By SAMUEL BARIASI
THE eight universities in the country are ready to resume classes next Tuesday, April 14, it has been revealed.
The heads of the University of PNG, University of Technology, Divine Word University, University of Goroka, University of Natural Resources and Environment, and Pacific Adventist University conveyed this in a letter to Prime Minister James Marape recently.
They requested the Government to allow classes to resume “under strict control measures and safe practices” during the state of emergency.
“We wish to advise you and the Minister (Higher Education) that we are ready to resume all academic activities in all institutions in the higher education sector as of April 14,” the letter said.
“Learning and teaching can be done online and through blended learning. Face-to-face learning and teaching will be monitored and larger classes could be divided into small groups of students to maintain social distancing between students.”
They also asked the Government to allocate K95 million to cater for students during the lockdown.
“(This will help us) to effectively manage 28,000 students during the period of emergency.
“(We recommend) that you direct the Treasury and Finance Departments to equally prioritise the higher education sector’s funding for the emergency activities recommended and release the funds immediately.
“Sufficient and timely funding must be made available to all higher education institutions to support the Government’s effort to contain the spread of Covid-19.”


Covid-19 woman isolated at home

THE 40-year-old East New Britain woman who tested positive on Monday for Covid-19 has been isolated at her family home and monitored daily by health workers, says Police Minister Bryan Kramer.
Kramer, representing Prime Minister James Marape on Covid-19 issues, said authorities had begun contact tracing to establish where she could have contracted the virus and if there had been any transmission so far.
“A second sample has been collected from her (on Tuesday). We will be able to provide the result of the tests tomorrow (today),” he said.
The woman, a volunteer health worker with the ENB provincial health authority, had been involved in Covid-19 awareness.

Police manning checkpoints in Kokopo.

She was admitted on March 29 at the Nonga Hospital with cold-like symptoms for two nights.
“Samples was taken from her two days later and sent to Port Moresby for testing,” Kramer said.
On the delay, he said it happened during the lockdown period.
“Her samples were flown to Port Moresby a couple of days later for testing,” he said.
“We will ensure that the turnaround time for all testing will be 24 hours.”
Kramer said the woman was fine and recovering.
“If she does start showing severe symptoms, she will be taken into the Nonga Hospital isolation ward. There are two isolation wards – one has eight beds and the other 10 beds. The province was in its preparation stage. There wasn’t enough awareness done.”
The province is being supplied its personal protective equipment and testing kits.

37 comments

  • Someone who has given her time to help those in need has been tested positive. the question everyone should be asking is “how did she come into contact with someone with the virus if she hasn’t gone out of the country and was not in contact with the first positive case in PNG?”

    • True, if she got infected in her home town while providing service, some people there must be walking around positive. This need to be clarified so people have some peace, now everyone is in fear.

      • What is the contact point of her? Please do proper and toral contact traching..of where she got COVID-19 and who infected her..

        • I support this point. Did the reporter investigate how she was contact the infected person. Did she got from the first case or from whom and where?

  • Minister, please don’t force the turn around time for results, let the SOP of test which was designed by professional individual dictates the turn around. Putting external pressure on results turn around time will force human error. These are very critical analysis.
    For individual performing this analysis, I suggest you use the Test Kits to get preliminary results to identify samples of interest, and confirm with normal test procedure.

  • Corona virus and lockdowns are not only for PNG please can we make clear to our so called elite institutions(Universities) in the country to bear with everyone and observe the situation until further advise.
    While the country is faced with financial issues they are asking for K95 million to resume classes. What non sense???

    • I totally agree with Ryaukz. Universities and institutions are the avenues where Covid 19 can pass easily. Wait patiently after the 2months lockdown is over. We don’t have any money and why asking the government. It was released that the Marape government are cutting the salary to save money for the emergency we going through and universities are seeking funding. Please don’t rush be patiences and God will make a way out.

  • What is really wrong with the universities in PNG??? people’s life’s are important than classes. Prevention is better than cure . How about bigger countries suspending classes and business activities while Universities in PNG are pushing forward to have classes. That’s nonsense , Government not to consider their requests ..

  • How did she contracted the disease? By rumors or facts, PNG knew Schulz had the disease. The Question everyone is asking is: HOW DID SHE CONTRACTED THE DISEASE? This the the begging question the authorities need to answer in whatever means possible for PNG to know.
    The second issue is: STIGMATISATION….. PNG must learn to remove stigmatising ….Everone must be an advocate of fighting stigmatisation….

  • Critical times calls for patiences, control, understanding, cooperation, with positive mindsets.
    I read above updated from BK with sensitivity of understanding and patience but the decision by our Universities for resumptions is uncalled for our elite institutions. Why????
    Is the resumptions for pandemic situation cure studies ?!?!
    For our Parliament members salaries cut, it’s a sacrifice urgently needed for economists strategy for the National Government to meet it’s objectives for COVID-19 control and prevention measures. That should have been one of the agendas for Parliament members first emergency sitting.

  • I think the test results are not for Covid 19. Test mas giaman. Yupla ckeckim gut.

  • How Did She got the COVID-19?? its a question have to be answered.. if she just stay in Kokopo and got infected, than everyone in Kokopo will possibly have the virus, please tell the country if she is not travelling out and how on earth did she get it???

  • STOP CRITICIZING people.
    Everybody are sick in their heads. We are all God’s children. We must put Ms. Schulz, her families and her people in our Prayer points. If Jesus has cured the Sycamore tree (this tress died from its very roots to the very top of the leaves). We can curse the Virus in the name of Jesus and it will die from it roots all the way to the very top. PNG is a christian country, so lets pray to our Heavenly father to fight our battle against this virus. It will END forever.
    AMEN and AMEN.

  • Why do universities want to resume classes? Are they better than universities in developed world? Or do they want to resume classes to research for the cure for the Corona viruses? The nation needs money in this critical time yet you ask for money. Please shut down and observe with rest of the world. We are talking about life.

  • No one is coming up with in details how she was contracted the Covid – 19. She was not even exposed to suspected areas where first confirm case in PNG, the expatiate routine.

  • I quite agree with Howard, what if the test result was a human error, from a simple layman reading and understanding of facts from those infected from other countries, the poor victim must have been laid to rest as she has an underlining condition but she survive and is well, apart from this she recovered within days which contradict the news from other developed countries victims recovered after 3 – 6 weeks nogut mi wrong, we should thank her for standing tall while facing all this stigmatization, to the victim may you farewell and rise above the ashes GOD bless and wish her well. and GOD BLESS PNG

  • Universities to resume is no point while trying to get this pandemic out..Life is important than the finishing your studies.You have all the time in the world to continue your studies.Be patient students…

  • If she is confirm after second test, then the authorities should kindly ask her of how and where she contracted the virus from because obviously there should be a source. This will safe the people of East New Britain and the rest of PNG.

  • If the COVID-19 patient in the ENB province did not leave the country and bring it from out side, check her foot prints on locations she has gone around during her awareness. If this is not been sought quickly, it will be an outbreak . Everyone is only talking about her but not actually looking at the bases of her contraction of the virus.

  • The government must not entertain the universities request at this crucial time, when the country desperately needs money.

  • ol universities tingm wanem na laik resume classes.
    “skul ba stap, man ba die”
    just cease studies and observe the lockdown first, lives are at stake here

  • If whatever observations and assessments the government has on the COVID -19 and feel sure that all educational instutiutions be ceased let it be so for the sake and safety of all 7 and over million people in PNG and not for and 0.1 percent of donkeys who are begging to go back to classes. The higher education department could consider putting all school off this year and resume the Academic year again next year . Your piece of paper and knowledge will be under six feet but the institution will be there so be wise.

  • If the second test comes out positive, the woman should immediately admit her point of contacts prior to developing the symptoms. Also test her work colleagues before the virus spreads like wildfire in ENB.

  • She is not hidding the diseases please talk to her kindly and we will find who was with her the last 2weeks before she was tested positive COVID19

  • How on earth is Papua New Guinea more secured than powerful nations like America and China? People are dying in those powerful countries because of corona virus. Lockdown measures must be strictly observed and followed to stop the virus from spreading. What are these 8 universities trying to do? Social distancing will be a big problem for students and lecturers.

  • BKramer says she probably contracted the virus while attending a church fundraising event at Raluana in which some overseas visitors or guest were present. If this is the case, then the whole village of Raluana is at risk. The Pastor, elders and leaders in the village are PI because they would be the ones who would have received and entertained the guests. It’s very scary

  • Who are we Papua New Guineans na ol universities blo mipla la resume while ol developed nations schools had shut down due to covid-19.Classes noken resume because if government give money lo universities lo resume and if situation blo covid-19 go worst ba mipa kisim money lo we gen lo luklik lo facilities na ol manmeri blo country.We do not have to be a beggar in terms of finances by asking developed countries for help, because right now everyone is facing the same issue.

  • Our thoughts and prayers with J and her family. Is there an on going community transmission? The only way you can assess the spread of the disease now is to test, test, and test more people. The time for PI has passed because we don’t know the index or patient zero for Kokopo. You can’t really do an effective “contact tracing” when PMVs don’t have passengers manifest and people have no proper addresses.

  • The fact that she is well is an encouraging sign..The worst case scenario is that she progressively become worse and is admitted requiring intensive care. Also those whom she has come in contact with are not fronting up to hospital in numbers as you would expect given the spread and notoriety of the virus. These are encouraging news. The country can take a lesson out of this case. There’s scientific evidence that suggests immunization against TB (BCG) confers some protection against covid 19..Nations around the world have gone ahead with BCG immunization in an effort to protect their citizens against Covid 19. In PNG everyone is immunized with BCG at birth as TB is endemic here. It maybe that those contacts in Rabaul have protection through their BCG immunization..Only testing for covid 19 will tell how many positive cases are out there but not getting sick from the virus…

  • Something to ponder on: The virus was detected in Wuhan around November 2019 which means the Corona Virus is precisely 4 months old before the world was alerted of the pandemic.. In saying this, our small island nation would have been badly struck with the COVID 19 hit wave but how amazing; we are not! So I am wishing Joanne Veronica Schulz a speedy recovery at Raluana LLG.

  • I truly believe the woman Joanne Veronica Schulz has not contracted the covid-19 virus at the first place. There must be a missing link somewhere along the channel of communication. If she was truly positive, people who may have come into contact with her especially her own family and those at her work station including people from Raluanna would also have contract the covid-19 virus from her as well.

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