The six COVID-19 deaths were recorded in Papua New Guinea on Monday.  
 
This was among 368 new COVID-19 cases reported for the same period, increasing the total number of cases in PNG to 7,406.
 
The recent deaths were recorded in the National Capital District, New Ireland and Morobe provinces. The NCD recorded three deaths of which two are males at the ages of 28 and 65 whilst the third is a 45-year-old female. Morobe province reported two deaths, a 70-year-old male and a 55-year-old female. New Ireland province reported the death of a 53-year-old male.
 
To date, NCD has recorded 52 deaths whilst Morobe and West Sepik recorded three deaths each. West New Britain, Western Highlands and Western province recorded two deaths each whilst Enga, Jiwaka and New Ireland reported a death each bringing the total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 67.
 
Northern Province (Oro) reported its first three cases of COVID-19, two of whom are males and one female. Their ages range from 37 years to 60. Two cases were asymptomatic whilst one was showing symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing.
 
The Western Province reported 108 new cases of which 91 are males, 16 females and one not stated. Their ages range from five years to 61. Eighty-nine cases were asymptomatic whilst ten cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 at the time of testing.
 
The Morobe province reported 68 new cases of which 38 are males, 24 females and six not stated. Their ages range from seven to 79 years. Sixty-four cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst four were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
 
The NCD reported 61 new cases of which 33 are males and 28 females. Their ages range from five to 79. Thirty cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst 31 were asymptomatic at the time of testing.

East New Britain reported 47 new cases of which 25 are males, 20 females and two not stated. Their ages range from 15 to 65. Thirty-seven cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst nine were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
 
Western Highlands province reported 42 new cases of which 24 are males, 16 females and two not stated. Their ages range from nine to 62 years. Twenty-eight cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst 14 were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
 
West Sepik province reported 24 new cases of which 15 are males and nine females. Their ages range from 19 to 60. Eight cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst 16 were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
Eastern Highlands province reported five new cases of which four are males and one is a female. Their ages range from 26 to 52 years. Two cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst three were asymptomatic at the time of testing.
 
Enga province reported five new cases of which three are males and two females. Their ages range from 36 to 57 years. Four cases showed symptoms of COVID-19 whilst one was asymptomatic at the time of testing.
 
Two cases each were reported in Central and Hela whilst New Ireland province reported one. Of the total five cases reported in three different provinces, two are males and three females. Their ages range from 30 to 47 years. Two cases were showing symptoms of COVID-19 whilst three were asymptomatic at the time of testing.

The country’s COVID-19 cases now stand at 7,406 with 67 known deaths. Twenty provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases.
 
Police Commissioner and PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Controller David Manning said it was very important that the people embraced the COVID-19 health protocols or the “Niupela Pasin” to contain and stop the spread of the virus.
 
“There is no cure for COVID-19. The only way now to stop yourself or your loved ones from getting COVID-19 is to wear face masks, regularly wash or sanitise your hands, maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres and avoid crowds,” Manning said.
 
Meanwhile, Manning said the National Control Centre (NCC) is aware that there is a huge interest from the public about the number of active COVID-19 cases and the number of people who had COVID-19 and recovered.
 
He said active and recovered cases are not currently reported by the NCC because these data are not available at the national level. Each Provincial Health Authority (PHA) is responsible for monitoring and reporting data on cases identified in their respective province.
 
“In order to determine if an individual diagnosed with COVID-19 is still considered an ‘active’ case or ‘recovered’, their clinical status and the time that has passed since they tested positive for COVID-19 needs to be monitored and reported to the NCC daily,” Manning said.
 
The length of time a case is considered to be ‘active’ (that is, infectious and capable of transmitting the virus) and the length of time a case needs to be isolated, varies from person to person. Asymptomatic cases that never develop symptoms are considered active for ten days from the date their positive swabs were taken. Symptomatic cases are considered active for ten days after the date of onset of their symptoms, and they must be symptom free for at least three consecutive days prior to release from isolation.
 
Manning said a recovered case is someone who has completed their isolation period and is deemed to have clinically recovered from COVID-19. A positive case does not need to be re-tested (using either RT-PCR or GeneXpert) after completing their isolation period. People may shed virus for over three months after acquiring COVID-19, but are no longer considered infectious after completing their isolation period, as explained. Thus, re-testing after the isolation period is not recommended.
 

1. Manning further said that in order to track active and recovered cases in PNG it is necessary for each PHA to monitor all positive cases in their province for the periods of time mentioned above and regularly share the information about the clinical status of their isolated cases with the NCC.

SOURCE: PNG GOVT/PACNEWS

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