Eight new COVID-19 cases reported - PNG total cases at 843

 Papua New Guinea reported eight new case of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the last 24 hours increasing the country’s total cases to 843. 

The latest cases were reported in West New Britain and in the National Capital District. 

Two cases were reported in NCD whilst six cases were reported in West New Britain.

In NCD, 58 year old female health care worker who resides in Moresby South electorate was tested positive. She was not experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 virus but swab samples returned positive.

Also living in Moresby South was a 28 year old male who was tested positive. He was showing symptoms of fever at the time of testing.

In West New Britain, a female nurse, a female teacher, a male boat crew and a male airport employee are among the six cases tested positive for COVID-19. 

All six cases, two female and four male, ages ranging from 23 to 63 years are from Talasea district. They were not experiencing COVID-19 symptoms at the time of testing but swab samples returned positive.

The country’s COVID-19 cases as a result now stands at 843 with nine known deaths.

A total of 40,697 people have tested for COVID-19. Eight hundred people have recovered whilst 16 samples are pending at the laboratories. Thirty-four active cases are in isolation.

Sixteen provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. The distribution of the cases is as follows:

Provinces                 Cases

NCD                          367

Western                   214

West New Britain   162

East New Britain      30

New Ireland              18

Eastern H/lands      13

Western H/lands     10

Central                      10

Morobe                       6

East Sepik                  3

Enga                            3

Milne Bay                   2

West Sepik                 2

Southern H/lands     1

AROB                          1

Hela                            1

TOTAL                    843

Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 has reached 93,805,612 including 588,325 new cases reported in the last 24 hours. 

The death toll is 2,026,093; of which 11, 136 were reported in the last 24 hours.

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