Eighty-four new cases of COVID-19 were reported on Wednesday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in PNG to 1,819.
Seventy-two of those new cases were reported in the National Capital District. The isolation ward for patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) at the Port Moresby General Hospital is full and many hospital staff are among the many already sick with COVID-19.
Long-time staff and senior gynecologist at the hospital Professor Glen Mola has posted on social media appealing to the people to listen and take heed of the health measures in the Niupela Pasin, saying the hospital COVID-19 ward is full. “Patients are dying of COVID-19 every day.
We are trying to look after COVID-19 patients in other wards because there is no space in the COVID ward,” Professor Mola said. Prof Mola said in the maternity wing alone, 20 percent of women presenting with pregnancy problems or are in labor are testing positive with COVID-19.
Furthermore, he said while health workers are attending to patients they themselves are getting infected with COVID-19. Last week, 10 of them had to be isolated and if this trend continues it could lead to serious problems such as the closure of the hospital which will lead to chaos.
Similar comments by other hospital staff were made, including those at the Accident and Emergency. They said the cases being seen are more serious than what they saw last year.
Papua New Guinea reported 84 new cases on Wednesday 10th of March, 2021, increasing the total confirmed cases to 1,819. The total confirmed number of deaths remain at 21. Of the 84 new cases, 72 are from the National Capital District.
The other 12 cases reported from: Morobe – 2; East New Britain – 1; EHP – 3; and Enga which reported 6 cases.
The total confirmed cases for all the provinces that have so far reported cases are now as follows. ·
NCD – 830 ·
Western – 324 ·
West New Britain – 197 ·
West Sepik – 159 ·
Morobe – 55 ·
Madang – 43 ·
Autonomous Region of Bougainville – 39 ·
East New Britain – 39 ·
Eastern Highlands – 27 ·
Western Highlands – 24 ·
New Ireland Province – 23 ·
Central – 20 ·
East Sepik – 15 ·
Enga – 10 ·
Jiwaka – 8 ·
Southern Highlands – 3 ·
Milne Bay – 2 ·
Hela – 1
The Controller of the National Pandemic Response and Police Commissioner Mr David Manning has appealed to people to adhere to the New Normal or Niupela Pasin.
These includes wearing facemasks at all times in the public, avoiding crowded places, practicing physical distance by standing or sitting 1.5m to 2m from the next person, covering your cough and washing hands often.
If there is no water, use sanitizers if you have them. Mr Manning has also appealed to people to avoid going out of the home if they are feeling unwell as they could be infected and pass the infection to others.
Globally, the total confirmed cases has reached 116,874,912 by Wednesday, of which 2,597,381 have died. The new deaths reported on Wednesday 10th of March was 6,573.
