SOE extension to end next week

THE two-week extension of the state of emergency approved by Parliament last week will end next Tuesday, officials say.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Justice and Attorney-General Davis Steven said the state of emergency would not be extended after it lapsed on Tuesday.
“We are in consultations with stakeholders,” he said.
“The Government is conscious of the negative impact of the Covid-19 especially in the business and economic sector.
“(But) it is also very conscious of the threat the virus has on the health and well-being of our people.” Deputy state of emergency controller and acting Health Secretary Dr Paison Dakulala said the two-week extension from June 2 to June 16 was to allow time for the drafting, tabling in Parliament and (expected) passing of the Public Health Emergency Bill.
“This new legislation will provide a legal framework to prepare for, detect and rapidly respond to the Covid-19 and other public health threats,” he said.
The country has not recorded any new case of the Covid-19 in the past 44 days. But authorities remained cautious because of the confirmed cases in other countries, including Indonesia and Australia which share borders with PNG.
“We do not have any cases but that should not (be an excuse) for people to let their guards down,” he said.
He said a few flights yesterday brought back people stranded overseas when the Government imposed a ban on international flights.
Dr Dakulala urged people arriving and required to be in quarantine for 14 days to comply with that.
He said the proposed law “provides a legislative framework for a national response to a pandemic declared by the World Health Organisation”.