Schools to reopen

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David Manning

SCHOOLS are to resume classes on Monday, and “limited” international flights to also start later next week, as State of Emergency Controller David Manning partially lifts restrictions.
“Schools will be opening on Monday,” he said.
“I am (also) working with Immigration to have international flights returning on a limited capacity from mid next week.
“All restrictions are reviewed daily to ensure that we have the balance right between the health and safety of our people, and establishing the new normal for business and services to operate.
“Protocols are being developed for business, schools and government departments to operate in this environment.
“I thank all people for their cooperation and for abiding by the restrictions. I ask for your patience and understanding while we fight against this threat.”
Schools were forced to close on March 23 as the state of emergency lockdown was declared in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Various restrictions were imposed including the movement of people and traffic, a partial public service shutdown and on the operations of businesses.
There was a strong emphasis on health safety guidelines.
Manning said those changes had to be made.
“I urge the people to understand that what we have done. (What you enjoyed in the past) might not be the way things are done now. We must all change to keep our country safe from Covid-19.”
He said other lockdown restrictions remained in place to ensure that everything was done to stop the spread of the Covid-19.
Manning also said Covid 19 tests were being conducted.
“There are 155 samples under testing in Goroka and (also) 800 samples will be taken to Brisbane for testing,” he said.
“The seven positive case samples have also been sent to the reference laboratory in Australia as per the World Health Organisation recommendations.”
He expects all cases to return “negative” in the next 14 to 21 days.
Meanwhile, the rapid response teams with police and soldiers are patrolling the borders in Western, Port Moresby and East New Britain focusing on the contact tracing for the positive cases.
“In relation to the Port Moresby case, contact tracing on all family members and work colleagues has been completed. All household members have returned negative,” he said.

13 comments

  • As it’s important our children must continue schooling, has the controller considered social distancing. Am not sure if you really know the student ratio in class coz my son’s classes have up to 80 at least all cramped up. How can social distancing be enforced?.
    Another suggestion is to only allow grades 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 because these classes are preparing for graduating and ensuring next year continues.
    The other grades as must as important they are I believe the critical years are the ones graduating this year and for the next year.

  • We all have only one life to love and care about it. The government is working extra hard to make sure the health and safety of its citizens are maintained. The only life that we have is so important to us. Schools will resume on 27 but we need to take extra precision for our daily health routines.
    Remember the one and only life is very important this period of time.

  • It’s a good call.
    The COVID 19 came not to kill some and leave anytime soon, but came to stay with us here forever.
    Let’s try on something so we can stay with COVID 19 when we see that there’s nothing we can do to ommit it permanently. I don’t think the government will take care of us for our lifetime when stay like this not attending school.
    Life is important when education wears it.
    Thanks

  • MR MANNING should not take this issue lightly because its to do with the lives of people.
    When we are alive then we’ll be able to do what we want to do near future. If we die, then there will be no education or flight in and out occur for as to enjoy and survive…….

  • I support the suggestion that all Primary and Secondary schools should be close for the year , except tertiary Institutions should reopen to complete the academic year.

  • I support to leave secondary to elementary out this yr but my suggestion is to let all grades 8,10 n 12 to continue classes especially those who are interested coz they will have enough spaces for them to Learn.

  • Just a taught from a laymans point of view. I think this is a cover up decision to start up schools and international flights very soon than ever. All the funds for Covid 19 is already exhausted (funds being misused or gone to the personal pockets) and hence no fund to deal with this covid 19. Corruption at its best.
    Observer mangi tasol payim bikpla txt istap. Hehehe

  • Provide testing kit for all schools.. all students and teachers must be tested every day every before entering the school grounds
    Social distancing is the concern here..

  • Australia & UK countries with world class health care are to ease restrictions in the next few weeks because they have reached their peak and are planning an exit strategy…PNG isnt even close to reaching its peak and yet Government is already planning an exit strategy for next week…without even the widespread testing to see how much the virus has spread PNG Gov wants to reopen border and open schools this is madness….if Government wants schools open lets see them send their kids to school before we send our kids to school…LEAD BY EXAMPLE !!!

  • So planning of sending the most vulnerable( our children) to the line of fire just so you the politicians and controller can have more information before parliament sits to decide on our future. In other words you want to know how many kids will be infected from covid19 or even die so you can make a decision.
    Come on! 90% are government schools where 90% students attend so I dare you big shots to put your child to government schools just like all of us then you can make informed decision after all that’s where you will be basing your data from.

  • I think the country is no where near of uplifting some ban,,,ie: when there was a single case in the country, there was a complete lockdown,,but now 8 confirm cases,,,ban are to be lifted,,pls have a good close consideration….if schools are to reopen,,we’ll be expecting more cases because the law of social distancing really be followed…If international flights are to resume, we will be importing more Coronavirus from overseas,,,,please mark these words,,,the decision made is good but not at this time….

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