Papua New Guinea Covid-19 Update - Total Cases and Deaths

Here is a brief update of Covid-19 cases and deaths in PNG since January 2021. The data is compiled from the Official PNG Govt Covid-19 website. There is an exponential increase in the number of cases in the first quarter of 2021. The deaths are at 1% of the cases recorded. See the table at the end of this post.

30 March 2021 Covid-19 Update 

PNG has recorded 5,620 Covid-19 cases and 56 known deaths on 30th March 2021. Of the 56 deaths, 

• 44 in NCD, 
• 3 in West Sepik,
• 2 each in WNB, 
• 2 WHP and 
• 2 Western Province,
• 1 Enga,
• 1 Jiwaka and 
• 1 Morobe province.

27 February 2021 Covid-19 Update 

PNG reported 47 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday 26 February, increasing the country’s total cases to 1,275 and the total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 13.

The latest cases were reported in 

• West Sepik, 
• West New Britain, 
• East New Britain,
• Central, East Sepik and in the
•  National Capital District.

31 January 2021 Covid-19 Update 

As of January 31, there has been 895 COVID-19 cases and 9 deaths reported in PNG. From the period of February 1 to 7, there have been 28 new cases:

• 15 from WNB, 
• 7 from Western,
• 3 from the NCD,
• 1 from New Ireland, 
• 1 from Central Province, and 
• 1 from Madang.

Weekly Updates - April 2021

Confirmed coronavirus cases (as of Monday 1st April 2021) is 6,475 confirmed cases with 60 deaths across the country. 

According to the Official Covid-19 website(covid19.info.gov.pg), the 5 provinces with the highest number of Covid-19 cases are:

• NCD  – 2, 945
• Western  –1,472
• West New Britain – 201
• West Sepik  – 327
• Morobe  – 262

See the complete Covid-19 cases and deaths in PNG here.

Summary table of Cases and Deaths

Here is the data table for the graph. As mentioned, The deaths are at 1% of the cases recorded. See the table below.

Education Department Announced School Closure for 4 weeks

 In line with the PNG Govt's National Isolation Strategy, the Department of Education announced the closure of schools for 4 weeks, starting Monday 22nd March 2021.

• School Closure form 22nd March 2021 to 19th  April 2021 (Weeks 8, 9, 10 of Term 1 and the Term 1 Holiday week, included)
• Schools resume on Monday 19th April 2021.
• School heads and Teachers must plan to recover the lost lessons once schools resume.
• Education Department will use Radio, Television and the internet to deliver lessons for key subjects during the suspension period.
• If there is a suspected case in a school community, the individual(s) must be immediately isolated, and you call the local medical centre and authorities.

Below is the circular from the Minister for Education, Hon. Jimmy Uguro.

Given the recent surge in the number of COVID 19 cases across the country, the government will announce a National Isolation Strategy with specific instructions to contain the surge.

Schools pose a huge challenge given the practical difficulties we have to apply and comply with the COVID 19 preventive measure like social distancing. It is possible that nationwide school suspensions or closures can help contain the spread of the virus, thereby reducing its impact on individuals, groups, health systems, and the economy as a whole.

Direction on Suspension  of Classes

Therefore, consistent with Sections 27 and 91 of the Education Act 1983, I  as the Minister responsible for education give direction for the suspension of schools in the General Education Sector for four (4) weeks. Specifically, it is from 22 March 2021 to 19th  April 2021. According to the  Education  Calendar, it will be Week 8, 9, 10 of Term 1 and the Term 1 Holiday week.

Lord willing, we will resume normal classes on Monday 19 April 2021.

This approval for suspension will apply to

(a) provincial institutions (namely, pre-schools, elementary schools, primary schools, high schools, secondary schools and vocational institutions) and

(b) national institutions, namely national high schools, Inclusive Education Resource Centers and FODE (tutorials).

The approval for suspension means that there will be no formal classes, tests, and examinations conducted at a school.

Protocols for Provincial Schools:

1. Each Provincial Education Board in consultation with the respective Provincial Government and Health authorities will determine the smooth implementation of this suspension of classes;

2. Teachers who do come to schools during the suspension to set students homework and other tasks must strictly follow pandemic control and preventive measures at all times. Schools gates must be locked and secured; and

3. School heads and Teachers during the suspension are to work on plans to recover lessons once schools resume, set termly programs, lesson plans, homework, tests and examinations.

Protocols  for the National High Schools  and Inclusive Education Resource Centers:

1. All national high schools will be locked down, and boarding students must strictly follow COVID19 prevention directives;

2. Students who can return home, can be allowed to do so, but they will not return until classes resume;

3. Huge school gatherings involving more than 20 students are prohibited;

4. For every teacher and student who will remain in schools, the whole community must be properly educated and they participate in practical drills on control and preventative measures; and

5. Contacts with outsiders must be limited and highly controlled.

Protocols for Teachers Colleges and Technical Colleges

The directions to be given by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology should be adhered to.

Protocols for Private Schools:

All private schools are urged to follow COVID19 prevention directives and suspend classes for the period of suspension too. All respective boards of private schools must implement directives of the National Pandemic Control Centre and this Office.

Lessons during the suspension period:

The Department will use three modes namely, Radio, Television and the internet to deliver lessons for key subjects during the suspension period.  Details will be made known in a Secretary's Circular.

A Secretary's Circular will also suggest plans schools will take to recover lessons lost during the suspension. We will also make an assessment and advise if there will be any change to the national examination dates soon.

Emergency Contacts:

If there is a suspected case in a school community, the individual(s) must be immediately isolated, and you call the local medical centre and authorities.

Conclusion

It is with a heavy heart that I am compelled to issue this direction, but it is done for the greater good and welfare of our students, teachers and the community at large. I urge all of us to follow all the basic preventative measures to stay away from the virus and protect others as well.

Please listen to the local radio and watch out for other messages and directions we will send out to schools related to this suspension of classes.

///ENDS

The original Ministerial Statement is available here. 

PNG Higher Education Institutions Resume Classes and Complete 2020 Academic Year - DHERST

DHERST DISPEL FALSE INFORMATION ON SOCIAL MEDIA REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (DHERST) says its position is to resume the 2020 academic year for all higher education institutions. 

Secretary Professor Fr Jan Czuba came out today to dispel false information being spread on social media Facebook about the closure of the academic year. 

"We currently have a situation where someone irresponsible is circulating false information that the Department is recommending closure of the academic year," Czuba said.

“This information is ethically and legally wrong and we regret that some people are trying to destabilize the peace and harmony during this state of emergency.”

Czuba says he has written letters to Prime Minister James Marape and Emergency Controller David Manning and he’s met with both and made the department’s position clear for all higher education institutions to resume classes and complete the academic year.

He says they are expecting a favourable decision from the Emergency Controller.

He says DHERST communicates to all higher education institutions regularly on any decisions via e-letters and it does not use social media during the state of emergency to communicate with the institutions.

He says any official statement will be announced by himself as per orders received from the Emergency Controller and the National Executive Council.

Czuba says DHERST is maintaining a reputable partnership with all higher education institutions to ensure that students, academic and non-academic staffs are safe and can work in a stable environment to achieve their highest potential by completing their studies.

PNG NBC News 20/04/2020

WHO Covid-19 Prevention: Videos with reliable info

The World Health Organisation produced several informational videos about COVID-19. The coronavirus video collection on YouTube make it easier to:

• understand the virus
• know how it spreads, and
• take prevention measures 

Check out these 5 informational videos on Coronavirus (links to YouTube)

1. How to protect yourself against COVID-19 (1:31 mins) World Health Organization (WHO)
2. Can masks protect against the new coronavirus infection? (1:27 mins) World Health Organization (WHO)
3. How is the new coronavirus affecting people who get it?  (1:25 mins) World Health Organization (WHO)
4. COVID-19 Animation: What Happens If You Get Coronavirus? (7:28 mins) Nucleus Medical Media
5. Coronavirus - seven steps to prevent the spread of the virus (0:31 mins) World Health Organization (WHO

Stay safe, stay strong. 

C19 Vs Education: Children Learning is Important too

As important as it is to stop the C19 pandemic from spreading in PNG, it is also important to educate our children at this trying time. This is the message on a thread in PNG Insight. I've fixed the messages and re-posted them here. 

The message is clear. The govt must also give equal and undivided attention to the education of our children at this time. 

Twitter discussion/thread

Two questions of significance

1/10
The first question is: what are the resources (Edu officers, equipment, technology, etc) are available, at present, within the education dept that the PNG govt can use for mass educating elementary to secondary school students?

2/10
The second question is what is there for the Higher Education sector (DHESRT)...can the universities and colleges use their resources to conduct non-contact classes...LAN, Wifi, etc?

Challenges to be proactive

3/10

The challenge is not to let this pandemic stop this generation of children from learning this year...so how best can DHERST and Education Ministry use the available resources to ensure learning takes place even?

4/10

DHERST and the Education Department cannot be complacent. They have to be proactive. 

The schools have closed early. We know the 27th of April on only a tentative date for school to open. 


There is no need to be scared. However, there is always safety in planning. 

Vision for long-term benefit

5/10

Importantly, this pandemic will come to pass, surely. With that in mind, put in place something that is permanent, something tangible so that when this is gone, our children will still benefit from it...this is called VISION.

6/10

The govt's priority is stopping the C19 pandemic. But, it must not be distracted from its responsibility to educate *THIS GENERATION* of students!

Don't be one dimensional, Mr govt. 


You have the duty to educate the kid, if/when the schools are re-opened or not.

7/10

Having said 1 - 6, it would be better for DHERST and Education Department (in collaboration with the SoE team) to CLEARLY spell-out what is going to happen:


(1) If/when unis, colleges and schools in affected regions/country will resume term 2 school year

8/10

(2) If school are to close indefinitely, what are the LEARNING INTERVENTIONS for 2020 are in place for the children?

Interventions measures?

9/10

The task to educate children en masse is not easy in our country. 


Parents are the ones who are at the receiving end. But, at least some intervention measures put in place are better than nothing - we cannot say let us take one day at a time.

10/10

DHERST and Education Department must know called on the SOE committee and find out, for the sake of parents and students, what is there for the academic year 2020. 


END!

PNG PM Statement re. COVID-19: Special Clearence for International Travels and Schools Re-opening

The PM's statement on the 2nd of April was clear - people's movements are restricted to stop any spread of Coronavirus in PNG. International and local travels are restricted until situations have improved in the country.

There are considerations for schools to open on the 27th of April 2020.

Furthermore, the PM hinted to consideration for special clearance for international travels via Brisbane, Cairns and Singapore. Schools, churches and gathering of people in large numbers are limited in order to protect the health and welfare of the general public.

Travel and Education info is sketchy at present

Travel information is expected to be made clear following the PM's statement. This blog expects the Education Minister (the Ministry) and the Education Secretary (the Department) to make formal announcements regarding the re-opening of schools for the commencement of term 2.

School Closure & Learning Intervention

In the event that coronavirus is detected in PNG - and schools are to close indefinitely - what are the intervention measures? In an earlier post, PNG Insight discussed several ways to make homeschooling fun.

We also discuss media and tech interventions, and radio and TV learning strategies for schools and teachers to help students and parents in times of serious shut-down.

Key Points re COVID-19 PNG

Here are key points (for more info refer to the full statement below Source: PMJM Facebook page):

• 14 days shutdown expires on Monday, April 6th 2020
• Resumption of domestic flights as of Tuesday 7 April 2020 for the main centres (Pom, Hagen, Lae, Madang and Rabaul)
• All schools to remain on Term 1 (and Easter) Holidays. Term 2 commences on Monday 27 April 2020 depending COVID-19 situation in the country.
• Churches, workplaces and public gathering must now readjust to a minimal number of persons (small groups) with a safe distance of work and socialization.
• For those overseas trying to travel in, we (the govt) will do special uplift from Brisbane. Cairns and Singapore under special clearance from Controller when we establish your medical clearances and you will be isolated here (in PNG) for 14 days.

PM's Statement - reposted

Today we are living in an environment of insecurities due to coronavirus. The virus is moved when people move from place to place. The world and our next-door neighbours have a greater number of infected persons and our weak health care systems, the government had to take a responsible approach. Within that context, parliament passed an extension to the State of Emergency (SOE) for a further two months. The SOE is not meant to harm us but protect us from the spread of Corona Virus (C19). By the expiry of our earlier SOE induced 14 days shut down, the isolation strategy was to keep C19 from spreading its presence in our country. We are mapping our country on C19, thank God Yahweh so far our country is free of virus. But that does not mean we become complacent. Based on global and regional medical trend and evidence before the Government on the dangers of lack of protective measures, our country stands totally exposed to the devastation C19 can cause to our people and economy. Today’s SOE extension will have operation orders that are less restrictive depending on the situation going into the future. For instance, by next Tuesday ( if we C19 free by Monday ) we will resume all domestics flights, will allow PMVs to operate, markets to operate, work to resume etc. Our 21 provinces will be our coordinating centres and three key coordinating people are the PPC, PA and CEO of PHAs. We will push in April to have C19 centres in Weom, Kiunga, Vanimo, Telefomin and Wewak. We will also work with Bougainville Government for a post in South Bougainville. I ask all citizens that this is trying times, just because there is no infected person presently is no reason for us to be complacent. Your freedom remains but for public safety including yourself, the Controller can make an intervention at individual or group or provincial levels going into the future. Churches and workplaces and public gathering must now readjust to a minimal number of persons (small groups) with a safe distance of work and socialization. We will make further announcements including the safety of our children at schools, considering pieces of evidence, trends and presence of C19 after the 14-day isolation phase expires next Sunday. For those overseas trying to travel in, we will do special uplift from Brisbane and Cairns and Singapore under special clearance from Controller when we establish your medical clearances and you will be isolated here for 14 days. God bless PNG. JMPM! Source: 2nd April 2020, Facebook

PNG Education Department Asked to Shut School Early for Two Weeks Due to COVID-19

It is reassuring to learn that on Sunday (22 March 2020), the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea laid out the plan for the fight against the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country. 

Together we fight against COVID-2019

PNG Insight raised the question of school closure and possible implications on students' learning.  Read the two articles earlier: 

• Will PNG Schools Shutdown due to Coronavirus COVID-2019

• Govt: Clear and Precise Response to Coronavirus Implication on Education Calendar

Regardless of the people's expectations of the leaders in the government, today is a time to come together and fight as a team - leaders and people together as one. 

PNG PM laid-out 13 control-measures to limit and stop movement of people across the international, national and provincial borders; as well as among people within the community in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Are schools closing?

The Prime Minister made it absolutely clear that schools should close early for Term 1 holiday on Monday, 23 March 2020.

Of the 13 resolutions at the emergency parliamentary council meeting, point 8 in the press release read:

"8. Education and Higher Education departments are asked to advance first term holiday as of tomorrow 23rd of March and the next 14 days are to be school holidays". [PM Press Release, Sunday 20/03/2020]

It appears that the students will have an early 2-week holiday whilst the govt assesses the COVID-19 situation in the country.

Australia issue level 4 travel restriction

The Australian High Commission in PNG issued a level 4 security warning - the highest travel warning from a scale of 1 to 4. 

AUSTRALIAN H/C in PNG - LEVEL 4 TRAVEL RESTRICTION

Below is the PM's press release of the 13-point plans

Today based on advice from the COVID-19 National Operation Centre (NOC 19) and National Security Council (NSC) recommendations, the National Executive Council (NEC) in an emergency meeting has decided on the following measures in light of the first positive case of COVID-19 in our country.

This is a national security issue now and not just a health issue but a cross-cutting issue including the effect on economy, law and order and education of our children amongst other effects. Hence the relevance of the following measures.

So far we have done trace of the person that came into our country and he remains to date our only positive person who is in isolation and recovering but to clearly demarcate our country from the spread and for Government to take stock from this biosecurity breach, we are taking the following measures.

 1. Confirm this first case and it’s the impact to ensure we contain its impact including treating, curing and sending the victim back to Australia.

 2. Taking stock of all entry into PNG after 7th of March to ensure all are checked, tested and status of health affirmed. All who have come in or those that have come in contact with those who came into PNG since 7th of March are to report to the hotline below.

 3. Declare a State of Emergency for 30 days in which the Commissioner of Police will assume control assisted by a callout placed on the military to ensure lawful order, control and response to SOE control measures.

 4. Following on our stop of incoming international flights, we now stopping all domestic flights for the next 14 days starting on Tuesday this week.

 5. We direct that as of Tuesday 24th March 2020, no Public transportation of people and no movement from one province to another for a 14 day period. Only approved cargo and medicine and police /military personal will be moving.

 6. The Provincial Governors and their Provincial Administrators with Provincial Police Commanders with the respective Provincial Health Authorities will be control points in all province.

 7. All heads of departments and private companies are to embrace safe workplace practice and non-essential staff are asked to stay at home for the next 14 days.

 8. Education and Higher Education departments are asked to advance first term holiday as of tomorrow 23rd of March and the next 14 days are to be school holidays.

 9. All who have come into the country as from the 7th of March 2020 or those who made contact with those who came into the country from that date please report, call or text to the hotline below.

 10. No border crossing by foot or canoe and police /army presence in border areas will be stepped up.

 11. Banks and financial institutions and super funds will be mobilised to work with Government on economic packages in this downtime.

 12. The SOE controller through the office of Prime Minister will be the only official point of releasing statements to the public.

 13. The SOE controller will issue on details on how citizens and our country respond and behalf in this time and breach of those will be punished as an offence in times of emergency.

We have now mapped the country into zones to isolate this virus from spreading. 

• The mid PNG zone from Morobe and Madang Provinces into the entire highlands,
• the Central Papua (including NCD, Central and Gulf), 
• the Niugini Island Zone, 
• the Sepik Zone, 
• the Western Border Zone and 
• the Bougainville Zone.

The SOE commander will delicate the PPCs to police the zones to ensure lawful abiding to this control measures.

We will get through this phase, we ask from the corporation from all citizens, residents and businesses houses.

God bless PNG.

Press C19/ 22.03.20 | Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape

Coronavirus Contigency Plan for School Closure - No School Closed Yet

CORONAVIRUS AND POSSIBILITY FOR SCHOOL CLOSURE - IS IT LIKELY?

Many countries closed their schools and universities because of the fear of infections among their students. Nearby, Australia has closed some schools in several states. 

Fiji and the Solomon Island are taking steps to CONTAIN the spread of the Coronavirus, COVID-2019. 

PNG has also restricted flights and visits coming into the country. But, has the country and the Education Department spell-out any contingency plans in the event schools closed?

We asked the question in our latest article - "Will PNG Schools Close Because of Coronavirus?"

Click the link to the article and participate in the discussion.

Stay safe.