COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea

The COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The virus was confirmed to have reached Papua New Guinea on 20 March 2020.[2] On 4 May, Papua New Guinea was declared COVID-19 free. However, on 20 June, the government confirmed another case of COVID-19, meaning that the disease is now present again within the country.[3][4]

COVID-19 pandemic in Papua New Guinea
DiseaseCOVID-19
Virus strainSARS-CoV-2
LocationPapua New Guinea
First outbreakWuhan, Hubei, China
Index caseLae
Arrival date20 March 2020
Confirmed cases323
Recovered110
Deaths
3[1]
Fatality rate1.4%
Government website
Health.gov.pg

As of 13 August, Papua New Guinea has a total of 323 cases, 3 deaths, and 110 recoveries.

Background

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[5][6]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[7][8] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[9][7]

Timeline
COVID-19 cases in Papua New Guinea  ()
     Deaths        Recoveries        Active cases

Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Last 15 days Last 15 days

Date
# of cases
# of deaths
2020-03-20
​
 1(n.a.)
⋮
​
 1(=)
2020-04-07
​
 2(+100%)
⋮
​
 2(=)
2020-04-16
​
 7(+250%)
⋮
​
 7(=)
2020-04-23
​
 8(+14%)
⋮
​
 8(=)
2020-05-04
​
 8(=)
⋮
​
 8(=)
2020-06-20
​
​
 9(+12%)
⋮
​
​
 9(=)
2020-06-25
​
​
 10(+11%)
2020-06-26
​
​
 11(+10%)
⋮
​
​
 11(=)
2020-07-16
​
​
 15(+36%)
2020-07-17
​
​
 15(=)
2020-07-18
​
​
 16(+6.7%)
2020-07-19
​
​
 17(+6.2%)
2020-07-20
​
​
 19(+12%)
2020-07-21
​
​
 27(+42%)
2020-07-22
​
​
 30(+11%)
2020-07-23
​
​
 31(+3.3%)
2020-07-24
​
​
 32(+3.2%)
2020-07-25
​
​
 39(+22%)
2020-07-26
​
​
 62(+59%)
2020-07-27
​
​
​
 62(=) 1(n.a.)
2020-07-28
​
​
​
 63(+1.6%) 2(+100%)
2020-07-29
​
​
​
 67(+6.3%) 2(=)
2020-07-30
​
​
​
 72(+7.5%) 2(=)
2020-07-31
​
​
​
 72(=) 2(=)
2020-08-01
​
​
​
 91(+26%) 2(=)
2020-08-02
​
​
​
 110(+21%) 2(=)
2020-08-03
​
​
​
 111(+0.91%) 2(=)
2020-08-04
​
​
​
 114(+2.7%) 2(=)
2020-08-05
​
​
​
 153(+34%) 2(=)
2020-08-06
​
​
​
 163(+6.5%) 3(+50%)
2020-08-07
​
​
​
 188(+15%) 3(=)
2020-08-09
​
​
​
 214(+14%) 3(=)
2020-08-10
​
​
​
 214(=) 3(=)
2020-08-11
​
​
​
 214(=) 3(=)
2020-08-12
​
​
​
 269(+26%) 3(=)
2020-08-13
​
​
​
 271(+0.74%) 3(=)
⋮
​
​
​
 271(=) 3(=)
2020-08-16
​
​
​
 323(+19%) 3(=)
Sources

March 2020

On 20 March, the first case in Papua New Guinea was confirmed.[2]

April 2020

On 7 April, Papua New Guinea confirmed its second case of COVID-19.[10]

On 16 April, the PNG government confirmed five new COVID-19 cases.[11]

On 23 April, an elderly woman of age 45 from Eastern Highlands Province was confirmed to be infected. The tally now stands at 8 cases in Papua New Guinea.

May 2020

On 4 May, acting Health Secretary Dr Paison Dakulala reported that all known cases have recovered, but stresses that they don't know what they are fighting. 2,400 tests have been carried out with the bulk in Port Moresby.[12]

June 2020

On 20 June, the PNG government confirmed its ninth COVID-19 case.[3]

On 25 June, PNG confirmed its tenth case of COVID-19, a 27-year old member of the PNG Defence Force.[13]

On 26 June, the PNG government confirmed its eleventh COVID-19 case.[14]

July 2020

On 16 July, PNG confirmed four new cases of COVID-19; they are staff from the main laboratory that tests for the virus.[15]

On 18 July, PNG confirmed its 16th case of COVID-19.[16]

On 20 July, PNG confirmed two new cases of COVID-19.[17]

On 21 July, PNG confirmed eight new cases of COVID-19.[18]

On 22 July, PNG confirmed three new cases of COVID-19.[19]

On 23 July, PNG confirmed one new case of COVID-19.[20]

On 24 July, PNG confirmed its 32nd case of COVID-19.[21]

On 25 July, PNG confirmed seven new cases of COVID-19.[22]

On 26 July, PNG recorded its highest number of positive COVID-19 cases in a day, 23 new cases.[23]

On 27 July, PNG recorded its first death.[24]

On 28 July, PNG recorded its second death and a new case.[25]

On 29 July, PNG recorded four new cases.[26]

On 30 July, PNG recorded five new cases.[27]

August 2020

On 1 August, PNG recorded 19 new cases.[28]

On 2 August, PNG recorded another 19 new cases.[29]

On 3 August, PNG recorded a new case.[30]

On 7 August, the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.[31] The patient was a 22-year old college student who returned to Buka Airport from Port Moresby.[31]

Prevention measures

The Government of Papua New Guinea banned all travellers from Asian countries and closed its border with Indonesia, taking effect from 30 January.[32][33] On 16 April, due to additional confirmed cases in the National Capital District (NCD) and the Western Province, the Emergency Controller issued National Emergency Order No. 16, effectively locking down the NCD. The order established an 8 pm to 6 am curfew, prohibited most public gatherings, limited groups to four people, banned public transportation, and suspended alcohol and Betel nut sales. The order also prohibits domestic air travel and closes public venues such as gambling halls, night clubs, sports and sports clubs, and religious services.

On 3 May, the curfew for the |National Capital District and Central Province was lifted, alcohol restrictions have been lifted. Gatherings remain banned, social distancing measures have to be enforced, and washing hands before entering church services is mandatory.[34]

On 5 May, the schools reopened; however, some schools required face masks and others have sent their students back again.[35]

The Autonomous Region of Bougainville region has imposed flight restrictions on mainland PNG, whereby flights could only be approved charters or medevac trips till 13 August.[36]

Cases by province
Province Cases
National Capital District 206
Western Province 47
Central Province 5
Morobe Province 4
East New Britain Province 2
Autonomous Region of Bougainville 1
Eastern Highlands Province 1
New Ireland Province 1
West Sepik 1
Southern Highlands Province 1

References
  1. "Department of Health- PNG". www.health.gov.pg. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. "PNG Confirms first Case of Coronavirus-COVID −19". Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  3. "An expatriate in Port-Moresby confirmed positive to COVID-19". postcourier.com.pg. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. "Data on COVID-19 transmission in the Country not clear". EM TV. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  5. Elsevier. "Novel Coronavirus Information Center". Elsevier Connect. Archived from the original on 30 January 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  6. Reynolds, Matt (4 March 2020). "What is coronavirus and how close is it to becoming a pandemic?". Wired UK. ISSN 1357-0978. Archived from the original on 5 March 2020. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  7. "Crunching the numbers for coronavirus". Imperial News. Archived from the original on 19 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  8. "High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England". GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  9. "World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus". www.wfsahq.org. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  10. "Live COVID-19 updates: PNG's 2nd COVID-19 cases sends entire province into lockdown, cases exceed 9,000 in Israel – Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  11. "Five New COVID Cases Confirmed Today". www.looppng.com. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  12. "Data on COVID-19 transmission in the Country not clear". EM TV. 4 May 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  13. "PNG's 10th Covid case 'evidence of local transmission'". RNZ. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  14. "Eleventh covid case in PNG, army barracks". RNZ. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. "Four new covid-19 cases in PNG are lab staff". RNZ. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  16. "New Covid-19 case recorded in PNG". RNZ. 18 July 2020. Retrieved 18 July 2020.
  17. "Two more Covid-19 cases in PNG capital". RNZ. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  18. "Residents of PNG capital to mask up as hospital cluster grows". RNZ. 21 July 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  19. "3 More Cases Announced as National Total Hits 30 – EMTV Online". Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  20. "PNG health staff assured of protective gear as cases rise". RNZ. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  21. "COVID-19 Cases in PNG rise to 32". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  22. "COVID-19 Cases in PNG Surge to 39". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  23. "23 new COVID-19 cases announced in NCD – EMTV Online". Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  24. "PNG Health Worker dies of COVID-19 : Marape". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  25. "PNG Records Second Death from Coronavirus". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  26. "Covid-19 widespread in PNG capital". RNZ. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  27. "Covid-19 widespread in PNG capital". RNZ. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  28. "COVID-19 confirmed Cases in PNG Rise to 91". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 1 August 2020.
  29. "PNG COVID-19 Confirmed cases pass 100 mark". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  30. "PNG records another new case , COVID-19 total confirmed cases rise to 111". Papua New Guinea Today (in Indonesian). Retrieved 3 August 2020.
  31. "Awareness of Covid-19 measures ramps up ahead of Bougainville vote". Radio New Zealand International. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  32. "Pacific countries, already hard hit by epidemics, take extreme coronavirus measures". The Washington Post. 29 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 January 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  33. "PNG to ban all travelers from Asian countries as it steps up response to coronavirus outbreak". ABC News. 28 January 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2020. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
  34. "No More curfew for NCD and Central Provinces : Manning". Papua New Guinea Facts. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  35. "Back to school". Loop Papua New Guinea. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  36. "Bougainville limits flights again as PNG wrestles with Covid-19". RNZ. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 1 August 2020.
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