PM: Govt followed advice

The National National

THE Medical and Scientific Advisory Council (Mesac) to the National Control Centre had resolved and advised the Government to lift the 14-day lockdown in Port Moresby.
Prime Minister Marape, on his Facebook account yesterday, said the Mesac had advised the Government to inform the people on the new norm.
“Despite our best attempts to stop the Covid-19 from coming into our country since January, we knew that our borders are weakly defended because of traditional and trading travellers, ships and boat-travelling were still taking place and airline travellers were still arriving,” Marape said.
“As evident in our country’s first and second cases where they were not epidemiological linked, the Covid-19 was bound to explode and despite our best efforts, it has exploded in July, hence, the need for Government to awaken our country to the need to adjust and to live with it” he said.
It is understood that some of the measures in the ‘niupla pasin’ would include:

  • STRINGENT public transport requirements such as wearing mask, only 15 passengers in PMVs, early check-in for airline travelers and monitored sea travelling;
  • MANDATORY wearing of mask in all public places;
  • MARKETS, sports and community events must be conducted in Covid-19 safe manner;
  • MEASURING of temperature and washing of hands upon request must be complied with;
  • SCHOOL administrators at all levels are to be Covid-19 safe practice coordinators;
  • BARS and clubs will remain shut and beer drinking in public places and settlements will cease, but served only in license restaurants and hotels in a Covid sensitive setting;
  • NO shaking hands and keep away from another person by two metres if without mask; and,
  • CHURCHES to open for services in a Covid-19 sensitive manner.