PNG to adopt 'nationwide isolation strategy'

Papua New Guinea's Prime Minister has announced the country will go into a nationwide isolation later this week to counter Covid-19.

PNG authorities reported hundreds of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the past few days, taking the national total to 2,351 with 26 reported deaths.

James Marape told local media that full details of the isolation strategy will be given on Wednesday after the burial of the late former prime minister Sir Michael Somare

"We're mooting a sort of, not a stiff lockdown, but a nationwide isolation strategy to ensure that people are not moving around unnecessarily.

"Remain in your provinces, remain in your districts, remain in your villages, remain in your suburbs where you are."

Marape indicated the restrictions on movement would coincide with upcoming school holidays, adding that the strategy would allow health authorities to take stock of the extent of the outbreak.

So far only around 55,000 tests have been conducted in a national population over over eight million.

Angau hospital closes temporarily

The hospital in Papua New Guinea's second main city has been forced to suspend services due to the surge in Covid-19 cases.

PNG authorities reported hundreds of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the past few days, taking the national total to 2226 with 26 reported deaths.

The Morobe Province administration has advised that Angau hospital in the city of Lae has partially closed temporarily due to an increasing number of staff being affected by and exposed to Covid-19 cases.

Until further notice, only emergencies will be attended to at Angau.

Morobe province has confirmed 94 Covid cases, although testing has been limited, as is the case around much of the country.

The capital Port Moresby remains a hotspot with over 1000 confirmed cases.

Wards are full at Port Moresby General Hospital where staff have warned the system is under severe strain.

Meanwhile, a number of government buildings have temporarily closed due to the pandemic.

As well, PNG's courts have shut down operations for two weeks after two judges and two officers of corporate services tested positive for Covid.

The total shutdown of the courts will run until the 29 March.