PNG Quarantines 175 Chinese Workers
Chinese contract workers who arrived in the country yesterday are now undergoing mandatory 14-days quarantine.Controller of the National Pandemic Response, David Manning has given approval for 175 Chinese citizens to return to PNG.
Mr. Manning in a statement last night said the Chinese contract workers are important construction managers and workers of major Chinese state-owned enterprises engaged in major government infrastructures.
These include a hydropower station, major provincial airport redevelopments, construction of major highways, and construction of the new National and Supreme Court building.
Manning said these workers were stranded since the outbreak of COVID-19 and must return to complete these projects, which are funded by various international financial institutions including the Asian Development Bank.
He said the funding will be canceled if PNG fails to complete these projects on time.
“They are not trade store workers or visitors, they are important contract workers and will be here for six or more months.
''We will take all necessary precautions to ensure that we do not put our people at risk, we will ensure they are put through a stringent testing regime and quarantine protocols which we have insisted they undergo prior to coming to PNG and upon their arrival,” Mr. Manning said.
The Controller said the country must get back to normalcy again with as little disruption as possible.
He said business and the economy must recover and work such as these major government infrastructure developments must continue.
Meantime, Manning said the 175 persons upon their return have undergone 14-days quarantine in designated hotels in Port Moresby and will also be required to do a mandatory seven-day medical check before released to their respective work sites in the country.
NBC News/ PNG Today
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