The National Control Centre (NCC) for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has sent a team of experts to West New Britain (WNB) to support the response amidst the increasing number of cases reported in the province.
To date, WNB has recorded 42 COVID-19 cases, the third-highest number of cases in the country next to National Capital District (NCD) and Western Province.
The team composed of experts on clinical management, infection prevention and control, surveillance, laboratory, risk communication and community engagement is working with provincial counterparts in contact tracing, case investigation, testing, training health workers and engaging with communities.
Meanwhile, rapid response teams are also deployed to other provinces and areas with reported cases such as at Loloata Island Resort.
As of today, Thursday 26 November, the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases has reached 645, including seven known COVID-19 deaths. Sixteen of the 22 provinces in the country have confirmed cases of COVID-19.
Based on case investigation and data verification, two of the cases reported on 25 November have been re-classified from NCD to Central. To date, NCD has 354 confirmed cases while Central Province has nine cases.
The distribution of the cases is as follows:
| Provinces | Confirmed Cases |
| NCD | 354 (2 reported on 25 November re-classified as Central cases) |
| Western Province | 204 |
| West New Britain | 42 |
| Eastern Highlands | 13 |
| Central | 9 |
| Morobe | 6 |
| East Sepik | 3 |
| Enga | 3 |
| East New Britain | 2 |
| Milne Bay | 2 |
| New Ireland | 2 |
| West Sepik | 1 |
| Southern Highlands | 1 |
| AROB | 1 |
| Hela Province | 1 |
| Western Highlands | 1 |
| TOTAL | 645 |
Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 59,481,313, including 463,730 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. The death toll is 1,404,542; of which 9,989 were reported in the last 24 hours.