Coronavirus

The curfew will be in force from 9pm until 4am throughout the period of the State of Emergency.

People are required to remain in their homes and premises during these hours unless for emergency purposes, health reasons or for performing a function related to an essential service.

The curfew is part of the strict measures introduced to keep the public safe and help to prevent and prepare for Covid-19.

The curfew is being imposed after consultation with the Council of Ministers

The latest situation report released today (Wednesday) has also confirmed that there are no suspected cases of COVID-19.

There are no samples awaiting testing.

The last tests for six samples were sent to New Caledonia on 25 March and they all returned negative.

The two-week State of Emergency was declared on 26 March by President Tallis Obed Moses.  

Photo RNZ Pacific      

Densly Rasa, South Maewo, Area Administrator told Radio Vanuatu’s Vois Blong Penama Province Program that this is the outcome of a meeting on COVID-19 prevention measures for the island, that took place last week at Betarara, organized by the Mathamal Tagaro, the highest governing body of the island.

Mr Rasa said people are now banned from travelling from one village to another.

The rapidly increasing demand on health facilities and health care workers threatens to leave some health systems overstretched and unable to operate effectively.

Previous outbreaks have demonstrated that when health systems are overwhelmed, mortality from vaccine-preventable and other treatable conditions can also increase dramatically. During the 2014-2015 Ebola outbreak, the increased number of deaths caused by measles, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis attributable to health system failures exceeded deaths from Ebola [1,2]. 

Income losses are expected to exceed $220 billion in developing countries, and nearly half of all jobs in Africa could be lost. With an estimated 55 per cent of the global population having no access to social protection, these losses will reverberate across societies, impacting education, human rights and, in the most severe cases, basic food security and nutrition.

The only accurate information on COVID-19 are those that are dispatched by the Ministry of Health and the National Disaster Management Committee and not anything or anyone outside these sources.

President of VANGO, Lai Sakita, says a lot of information has already been circulated but not all members of the civil society are connected through airwaves, through internet or through other main sources of information.

“This is a time when civil society networks become crucial to save lives.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.

Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings.

It is not a new network. The name change attempts to reinforce the Health Department’s messages about practicing basic hygiene and is part of the company’s efforts in helping PNG battle COVID-19.

Around 1.5 million handsets will notice this change while others may not as this depends on the type of handset.

The company hopes that when users look at their handsets, they will be reminded to wash their hands.

With a huge amount of experience and dedicated health staff, NPH has taken ownership to activate its EOC, plan for the worst and involve all its partners as early as last week.

NPH is the first hospital to activate its EOC at the request of senior health staff and hospital Acting Medical Superintendent, Dr Andy Ilo.

“Hospital EOC’s become the leading command and control centre for our health services and it allows partners to attend briefings in the morning so that we are all on the same page when tasks are handed out for the day,” Dr Ilo said.