Province considering 2-week lockdown after exams

The National National

EAST New Britain could head into a 14-day lockdown after the grade eight examinations next week, a senior provincial government official says.
Provincial administrator and Covid-19 response controller Wilson Matava said it was one of strategies being considered to control the rise in positive cases.
Measures to be implemented this week include:

  • BUSINESS hours from 8am to 4pm Monday to Saturday;
  • PUBLIC transport to observe social distancing;
  • QUARANTINE protocols for all positive cases, suspected cases and close contacts;
  • LIQUOR sales only from Monday to Thursday;
  • PROTOCOLS on the handling of bodies and burials; and,
  • COMPULSORY masking in public areas and confined spaces.

Matava said the number of Covid-related deaths was 13 – the latest one being that of an unvaccinated health worker on Oct 17.
“The province must not take this situation lightly. We must not be complacent and lower our guard in the public and private sectors, and in our families and groups,” Matava said. He said the highest risk group were unvaccinated older people. The younger population are also potential spreaders.
Matava said the pandemic needed a whole-of-government approach to address it rather than being treated as just a public health issue.