Author: Tasminnie ISIMELI

No new measures have been released as yet from the National Control Centre since the last measures were released which came into effect from September 30th – October 30th, 2021. “As we informed the country last week, today we will review those measures.” “We hope to have any amendments to be made or any new measures to be issued by tomorrow or Friday,” said the National Pandemic Controller, Mr David manning. For now, the measures that were released on the 30th of September are still to be adhered to. This includes sporting codes that have more than 20 participants must…

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St John Ambulance responded to 69 emergency calls on Friday, October, 29th 2021 from all across PNG.  “This is the highest number of cases we have ever responded to in a 24-hour period in at least 5 years.” “60% of all emergencies that St John Ambulance responded to yesterday were for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 cases.” “We express great concern with the surging cases in Kundiawa and Central Province,” said CEO of St Johns Ambulance, Matt Cannon. Cannon said that the St John ambulances usually retrieved 3 to 4 patients daily from Central Province, usually for serious emergencies like trauma,…

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People in Lae took to the streets of Eriku on Friday morning to protest against the Covid-19 Measures in the province such as the “No Jab No Job” policy being implemented by certain companies and the mandatory wearing of masks. The protest was an illegal one as the police were not notified and no permission was given for this protest. “We had heard about the protest so we had our men set up in different locations leading into town so we could control the crowd,” said Lae Metropolitan Suprintendent Commander, Chief Suprintendent Chris Kunyanban. Met Sup Kunyanban said that the…

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There are no new measures being released as yet after the 11 measures that were released by the Controller which came into effect on September 30th, 2021. One of the measures introduced included the banning of large gatherings whereby an allowance was made for gatherings of not more than 20 persons at any one time. This measure as well as the others were to be reviewed after the 30th October 2021. “We have reviewed the measures and new measures have been submitted to our lawyers to approve.” “Once approved, we will submit to the National Control Centre to be announced…

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125 Grade 8 students from Goilanai Primary School in Milne Bay Province join the rest of the country in sitting for their first English paper today and the rest of their National Exams this week. School Head Teacher, Mr Eugene Awilo said that students and staff will be practicing social distancing and mandatory mask wearing during the exam week. “We have suspended classes for Prep to Grade 7 for this whole week while our grade 8 students sit for their exams,” Mr Awilo said. He believes that the students will do well as they have been prepared well by their…

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“The Lockdown in NCD will only come about based on medical advise.” “My view is that the advise will be that great enforcement of the NIUPLA PASIN will have to be done such as enforcing the No Mask, No Entry rule for the shops and even schools,” said the National Pandemic Controller, Mr David Manning. The Controller said this after rumours of a lockdown to be imposed here in the National Capital District. He said that a lockdown will be expensive and challenging however it did serve its purpose last year in controlling community transmission in the city. He further…

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Schools in Jiwaka Province have had to close for 10 days as teachers have tested positive for Covid-19 last week. “3 schools were closed on Monday and another 2 schools were closed on Wednesday.” “Students in Grades 3-7 have been asked to remain at home with only Grade 8s remaining in school to prepare for their upcoming exams,” said the Jiwaka Provincial Education Advisor, Dr Charly Muke. Lee-Eby Primary school, Banz Elcong Primary school, Nondugl Admin Primary School, Kugark Primary School and Kimil Primary school have had teachers test positive to Covid-19 so the schools had to close. The schools…

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The Popondetta General Hospital in Oro Province has confirmed 13 covid-19 cases this week with two of the cases being severe and admitted at the hospital. “Even though Northern Province is not a hotspot, we are still recording Covid-19 cases.” “COVID-19 is fairly new in the country and so we currently don’t have an isolation facility in the hospital for COVID-19 patients,” said former Acting CEO, Dr Touai Giara. Dr Giara said that the 13 cases were detected when they presented themselves at the hospital for testing and upon testing positive, they were advised to go into isolation with the…

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Teachers in Jiwaka Province have been given the permission to celebrate World Teachers Day today however on a smaller scale due to the current pandemic. “We originally planned to have a big celebration to celebrate our hard-working teachers but we have had to adhere to the new measures of no gatherings and we had to cancel our celebrations.” “Jiwaka Province is very close to Eastern Highlands and since it’s one of the hotspots for Covid-19, we are strongly discouraging gatherings,” said the Jiwaka Provincial Education Advisor, Dr Charly Muke. He said that he had advised school heads that they can…

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Goroka Base Hospital in Eastern Highlands Province is struggling the meet the oxygen demand for the increased number of Covid-19 patients coming in to receive treatment  at the hospital. “The hospital is doing very good but with the demand for oxygen increasing lately, we are trying to meet the demand of patients needing oxygen.” “Because of the respiratory infection Covid-19 has brought about that causes patients to go into severe respiratory distress, the number of the oxygen demand now is more so we have to supply them more oxygen,” said a doctor from the Emergency Department of the Goroka Base…

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