Papua New Guinea recorded 298 new COVID-19 cases including two new deaths this week, increasing the total number of cases to 14,639.
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.
The total number of deaths is 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.
The new cases were reported in 14 provinces. A total of 194 of the new cases are males and 100 are females, with ages ranging from 4 to 76 years old. Of this number, 159 were symptomatic, 68 had comorbidities and six were hospitalized. Fifty-eight were contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases whilst 17 were health workers.
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.
A total of 13,608 people have recovered from COVID-19 whilst 890 cases are active within the last 21-day period.
As of May 16 a total of 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.
By province the 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 David Manning, to encourage the frontline workers, especially those in the health sector to receive their vaccines.