A doctor at remote Daru Hospital in Papua New Guinea's Western Province has become one of the latest victims of Covid-19.
The doctor was medevacced to Port Moresby on Tuesday last week but died at the weekend.
The deputy controller of the pandemic response, Dr Daoni Esorom, said Daru Hospital has lost three people to Covid-19 in less than two weeks.
He said that these people were all still in their prime age, but that's what Covid-19 does.
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He said the deaths are most likely due to the Delta variant because it spreads fast and is deadlier for those with co-morbidities and the elderly.
Dr Esorom reiterated calls for people throughout PNG to adhere to the "Niupela Pasin" or "New Normal" by following good hygiene and distancing measures.
Meanwhile, Daru hospital still open but has scaled down its operations to emergencies and dealing with covid case.
Chief executive, Dr Niko Wuatai, said they have requested that a clinical team from Port Moresby to be sent to Daru.
He said Daru is experiencing a third wave of the pandemic and as of Tuesday last week, the hospital had reported 89 positive cases over a period of two weeks.
Dr Wuatai said "we are monitoring the situation on the island very closely given the independence celebration and the large number of people currently on the island."