Take preventive measures seriously

AS much as we all want restrictions relating to the state of emergency (SOE) lifted or relaxed, an outbreak of the coronavirus in the country will be catastrophic.
While PNG has only two cases registered in the World Health Organisation statistics, it is important that we as a society do not ignore Covid-19. It is best to be vigilant and cautious.
It is for everyone’s benefit that the measures – from social distances to getting into crowded areas and the simplest reminder of personal hygiene – still remain.
The message of practicing hand hygiene (washing hands regularly with soap and water), respiratory hygiene (cover your cough) for yourself as well as your family members and your community should carry on.
Let’s continue on the basic of personal hygiene right and adhere to the don’ts and dos of the SOE. The World Health Organisation is working with countries on strategies to “gradually and safely” ease stay-at-home restrictions aimed at containing the spread of coronavirus, agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists last Friday, though he cautioned against any sudden action.
Tedros laid out six factors for consideration, which includes that transmission is controlled and sufficient public health and medical services are available.
Obviously, we do not fit into this category yet.
PNG has two cases (one imported and one local) of Covid-19.
Person from the imported case was medevace’d to Australia and is reported to have been cleared.
The second person is currently recovering from Covid-19 in Kokopo, East New Britain, and is awaiting results from the third test.
A SOE was declared on March 23 with a 14-day lockdown. Parliament then extended the SOE for a further two months that took effect on April 6 after the 14-day lockdown lapsed on April 5.
The SOE and lockdown announcements caused confusion anxiety, and fear among the public.
Many at that time did not understand that the preventive measures announced was to put in place mechanisms to control and prevent any further spreading of the virus.
The fight to contain the Covid-19 pandemic is global. All nations are working together on this.
Sadly, though some people have capitalised on the pandemic, to spread disinformation for the purposes of advancing their own agendas.
The motives for spreading disinformation are many, and include political aims, self-promotion and attracting attention.
Those who do so, play on emotions, fears, prejudices and ignorance, and claim to bring meaning and certainty to a reality that is complex, challenging and fast-changing.
To minimise such, authorities should ensure that truthful, helpful and potentially life-saving information gains wider prominence. This will improve the supply of truthful information.
The Government, in order to counter rumours, should be transparent, and proactively disclose more data.
Access to information from official sources is very important for credibility in this crisis.
At the same time, let’s continue to share facts and accurate information about the coronavirus.
The way we communicate can affect the attitude of others.
In the coming days and weeks, let’s all pay attention to what the Government has announced to take effect and to abide by it to stop the virus from entering our respective communities.
We still have ignorant citizens, sadly some are well-educated, still defying SOE instructions and we pin out hopes on the respective authorities to start cracking the whip for them to toe the line.