Parliamentarians in the Papua New Guinea autonomous region of Bougainville have agreed to extend a State of Emergency imposed last month to help combat Covid-19.
Arawa Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades
The original SoE was to finish next Monday - this had now been extended until the middle of June.
The Minister for Peace Agreement Implementation, Albert Punghau, said MPs were to decide today what the impact would be on the Bougainville elections.
There are no known Covid-19 infections in Bougainville but two samples of suspected cases were to be sent to Port Moresby for testing once a plane is available.
The Health Secretary Clement Totavun said, as of Sunday, 316 people had been screened on Bougainville since the State of Emergency was declared, with 301 cleared and the others identified as 'persons of interest'.