Tough measures crucial

PRIME Minister James Marape says the Government had to take a hardline approach to address the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Hospitals throughout the country have 5,400 beds with only 177 ICU (intensive care unit) beds to look after acute patients,” he said.
“Of this 177, only 41 have oxygen ventilators. And we only have 425 doctors.”
He urged people not to be complacent after all the eight people who had contracted Covid-19 had fully recovered.
“Global numbers are going up, our regional numbers too are going up, including our walk and swim border areas with West Papua, Indonesia,” Marape said.
“To those outside, I have just recommended to the controller (David Manning) to allow for your travels but you must follow strict protocols.
“The State will pay for your isolation stay here. “In (testing) times like this, you and I must put our bodies on the line for PNG.”
He said he would continue to use social media to relay important government information to the people.
“Sometimes, the formal media have editorial space limitations. So I will be using this medium for information I personally feel are important for public noting,” Marape said in a posting on Monday.
“I am sorry for those who are doing grammar and spell checks on FB (Facebook). I write quickly myself in the interest of time. So you do see typos in my write-ups.
“My apologies to supporters and die-hards of some of my opponents who are hiding behind fake accounts.
“Get your men to write like I am doing in the real world instead of lurking behind masks, mumbling and grumbling.”