A total of 13,608 people have recovered from COVID-19 whilst 890 cases remain active within the last 21-day period. PNG's total number of positive cases to date stands at 14,639 with recent cases reported while the total number of deaths is 141. 13,420 people have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The majority or 10,443 are essential workers whilst the rest, 2,977 are health workers. The two recent deaths were a male and a female, aged 64 and 70, both recorded in the Eastern Highlands province. They were both hospitalized and one had an underlying medical condition. With a death toll of 141, the National Capital District has recorded 72, which is the highest for the country followed by Eastern Highlands with 14. The Western Highlands Province has recorded 12 deaths. Males account for 9,300 of the country’s cumulative total COVID-19 cases to date whilst females numbered 5,190, with ages ranging from one to 93 years old. Of the 14,639 cases, 7,695 showed symptoms of COVID-19 including shortage of breath, sore throat, muscle ache, headache, fever and cough whilst 458 were hospitalized and 30 placed on ventilators. By province NCD still has the highest number of people vaccinated with 7,215 followed by Morobe with 1,636. Sixteen provinces have rolled out their vaccination programs with the remaining six set to begin theirs as well. The release of the latest COVID-19 statistics has prompted the Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning, to encourage the frontline workers, especially those in the health sector to receive their vaccines. “About ten per cent or 1,499 of the total COVID-19 cases to date are health workers. This is a serious cause for concern. Health workers are in the front line of this fight against COVID-19 and they must be protected at all cost. However, statistics again show that health workers again make up for about ten per cent of those vaccinated thus far. "It is optional but I am appealing to the health workers around the country to take the shot immediately. Protect yourself first so that you can then effectively defend your country from this unseen enemy,” Mr Manning said.