Provide regular updates on Covid-19

I AM an avid reader of The National.
I pick up my daily copy at 6am every morning from a seller in East Boroko and immediately scan the headlines.
I was delighted to see your lead story about the Covid-19 case at Pacific International Hospital on Jan 18.
The people are kept in the dark and are unable to properly protect ourselves in the global war with this virus.
Knowledge is power and The National is doing an excellent job with providing the information that is not reaching the public.
I am frustrated to note that the National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning’s reports are getting fewer and the details are fewer as well.
For example, hot spots in Port Moresby were previously named – East Boroko and other suburbs such as St Joseph’s and Koroboro international schools were named.
But in the latest reports from the controller, Moresby North East and Moresby North West electorates were named.
These areas are huge and it is useless when it comes to identifying hot spots.
Lessons can be learnt from reports we access on ABC Radio 101.9 FM.
For example, on the day after Christmas in Melbourne, Australia, a man tested positive and all those people who may have been in contact with him were alerted.
He was at a cricket match in a grandstand with about 5,000 other people.
These people were alerted by the media and were encouraged to go for tests.
They were advised to isolate themselves so that they would not spread the virus.
The same man visited 10 different stores in a shopping complex.
All those stores were alerted and those who were in the shop at the time of the man’s visit were advised to isolate themselves.
People should be informed at all times through all mediums.
The population in Australia developed positive attitudes in the war with the virus because the media played a critical role.
The same can happen in Papua New Guinea.
We are blessed with excellent media companies and journalists who can learn on the job on how to improve their investigative journalism skills, including data gathering and reporting.
The PNG health system is not strong enough to cope with a potential outbreak of the Covid-19.

Church Worker