Soldier tests positive

The National Main Stories

By REBECCA KUKU
A FEMALE soldier has tested positive for Covid-19 – the 10th case recorded in the country so far, officials have confirmed.
Defence Force commander Maj-Gen Gilbert Toropo last night told The National there would be a 14-day lockdown at the Murray Barracks in Port Moresby where the soldier was based.
“The barracks will be locked down for two weeks,” he said.
“Everyone is instructed to work from home. Only essential staff will continue to carry out their tasks.
“Families are also asked to stay at home and will only be allowed to go out for (essential things) like going to the hospital or buying food.
“No movements in and out of the barracks except for essential services staff and the health department and national operation centre teams.”
He appealed to the soldiers and their families for calm, patience and understanding.
The ninth case, an Australia Defence Force soldier also based at the barracks, returned home to Australia yesterday.
National Pandemic Controller David Manning said the 27-year-old female soldier was based in Port Moresby.
“This is PNG’s 10th case of the Covid-19. She works at the Murray Barracks but lives off-site in a shared accommodation,” he said.
“She was tested as part of the ongoing mass testing of the staff at the barracks following the announcement of the ninth case on June 20.
“Her positive test result was received today (yesterday) from the Queensland health laboratory in Brisbane, Australia,” he said.
Manning said the rapid response team was conducting case investigation and contact tracing with officers from the Department of Health, Defense Force, Australian Defense Force and the World Health Organisation.
Manning said the case proved that there was “local transmission in Port Moresby and the risk is very high”.
“More cases may be identified in the coming days,” he said.
“Papua New Guineans need remain vigilant to stop the transmission.”
“The country needs to work together to apply the new normal. This will involve changing our ways of doing things and replacing them with behaviours and actions to reduce the risk of infection.
“Controlling this outbreak is our shared responsibility. I urge people to stop converging and mass gathering. The best support we need from the public is to protect yourselves and your families.”
He urged anyone experiencing flu-like symptoms, fevers, coughs, sore throats, body aches or having difficulty breathing to stay at home and immediately call the toll free line 1800 200.

 

14 comments

  • Thanks for the updates and all the latest news, I would be very interested to hear more from you guys.
    thank you

  • Thankyou very much for the png entire covit 19 awareness teams,
    I don’t own T.V. but received the latest updates thru my phone. This
    always reminds me to tell my family
    and neighbours to keep following the SOE rules.

  • Covid 19 is a common virus that PN Guineans had been exposed to since childhood so we might not be severely infected when in contact with COVID 19.

  • How did the female soldier been sprayed with the virus by Australian soldier boy? Check out on how she contracted the virus from him.

  • Do we have proper Health Laboratory implaced in the Country to test for COVIDE-19 Cases? I think this is very funny going down to Australia to do testing.

  • How did the white boy and black girl got this sick? Have they been together? Covid 9 is already here and local transmission is clearly evident. Why are we being reactive?

    • What you assume might be correct. Some one from Murray Barracks story gud na umi harim.

  • Please, men, women, boys and girls do not be attracted to the opposite sex at this time when the pandemic COVID 19 is still vulnerable. How did that PNG female soldier got that sickness? Only herself.
    Thanks to the national COVID 19 team to inform PNG about the latest update.

  • General Queries as a Tax Payer from an Isolated Island Wishing to Travel Back Home to Port Moresby:
    1. Do we have (a) Quarantine Centre(s) in the Nation’s Capital; the main international Gateway? If so,
    2. How many so far?
    3. Were they funded inter/or externally?
    4. In both Cases, how much so far?
    Thankyou.

  • Carry out tests at her location where she lives off-site in a shared accommodation to stop the spread please, or maybe it spread already…?

  • Thanks for the information. One thing i have in mind is that there should be a group of medic team to work on this cases and they should be the ones to report back to the general public not the minster of health or whoever it is because he or she is not there to see whats happening so let the medic team report to the public. if you get what I’m saying you would understand thank you.

  • what a great lie! Come on PNG peoples. I am not a prophet but i guess this an entire lie from the PNG Covid-19 task force to completely divert the leftover money from the covid-19 budget it
    into their accounts. it will be tested negative again mark my word..

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