Milne Bay is the latest Papua New Guinea province to confirm a Covid-19 case, bringing the country's total number of cases in to 333.
People at Alotau town street in Papua New Guinea. Photo: Danemo
It means that half of PNG's 22 provinces now have at least one confirmed case of the coronavirus.
The Milne Bay case is a 18-year-old female who has not traveled out of the province recently.
She is among 10 new cases reported in the past day by PNG's Pandemic Response Controller David Manning, the other nine being in the National Capital District.
The capital, which has 230 of PNG's confirmed cases, last week came out of a two-week lockdown designed to curb the spread of the covid.
However the controller warned that there was a disappointing level of adherence to rules on social distancing and the use of masks by the public.
"We are still seeing people in NCD (National Capital District) walking around in public places without masks on, and PMVs (Public Motor Vehicles) not adhering to the protocols in place and I cannot emphasise more the need for everyone to please adhere to the Pandemic measures," Manning said.
"The government is doing everything to protect everyone, and it needs you to take responsibility of your health and that of your family."
Photo: RNZ Pacific/ Koroi Hawkins
In the past 14 days, the national capital has reported an increase in samples collected, due to increased testing in Port Moresby.
NCD curfew continues
Manning, who is also PNG's Police Commissioner, reminded residents in the capital that despite the lockdown being lifted, a 10pm to 5am curfew remained in place.
He said he wanted to clarify misinformation being spread within the nation's capital.
"There was no uplifting of the curfew. It remained in force and continues today under the new measures as well," he said.
Manning said there had been a lot of public criticism over the measures.
"People spread the virus when they move from place to place so when you stop people from moving you stop the virus from spreading as well.
"But this is also a security issue as well. Normal good law abiding citizens are usually at home during those curfew hours. Essential workers request for and have been given curfew passes to travel during these hours."
The Controller has also written to the Chief Executive Officer of the National Gaming Control Board, Imelda Ago, to urge her to refrain from misinforming the general public with regards to gaming (pokies) operations and adherence to curfew rules.
Manning said a formal criminal investigation would be initiated into the issuance of contradictory information given by the National Gaming Control Board.
"I also encourage all service providers to not relax on the 'no mask no service' measure. You are doing your family and your community a tremendous service in the fight against Covid-19."
Meanwhile he said the National Control Centre was looking at securing locations to be used as contingency isolation centres should the existing facilities, the main one of which is the Rita Flyn facility in Port Moresby, become overwhelmed by the increasing demand for quarantine.
The Rita Flyn facility is said to have a capacity of 70 patients.
Photo: PNG Department of Health