Papua New Ghuinea has issued new compulsory mask use measures as it continues to wrestle with a spike in Covid-19 cases.
PNG Pandemic Response Controller, David Manning Photo: EMTV
The National Pandemic Response Controller, David Manning, put the total number of confirmed cases at 1,741, as of Wednesday, almost half of which were reported in the past five weeks.
Manning issued a series of new measures under the National Pandemic Act.
They included that all people should wear masks where possible, and that entry on public transport and to any enclosed space is only permitted if a person wears a mask or face-covering.
Masks must be worn to cover a person's nose, mouth and chin.
Businesses and government agencies are to provide face coverings for all employees.
Meanwhile a free drive-thru Covid-19 testing facility has swung into action in the capital of Port Moresby.
This comes amid a surge in confirmed cases of the virus in recent weeks across the country
A drive thru testing facility reopened yesterday after a two-month gap, at Port Moresby's Taurama Aquatic Centre.
One of its co-ordinators, St John Commissioner Matthew Cannon, said the public response was pleasing.
He said samples should come and get a free test if they were symptomatic or a direct contact of a confirmed Covid-19 case.
Cannon said it was taking some time for samples to be processed, with the priority on alerting people if their result was positive.
Photo: RNZI / Koro Vaka'uta