COVID-19 Isolation Strategy a Waste of Time : PNG PM Marape

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, James Marape, says the four (4) weeks of National Isolation Strategy implemented by the Government under the National Pandemic Act to contain the spread of COVID-19 was a waste of productive times. 

This was his blunt response when NBC News asked him during a news conference yesterday (Thursday, 22nd April, 2021) whether the lock-down and the recently concluded Isolation Strategy had a positive impact. 

COVID-19 Isolation Strategy a Waste of Time says PNG PM Marape 

This newsroom asked this question because it’s been observed that the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases continue to rise at an alarming rate during and after the implementation of the strategies.    

The aim of the Isolation Strategy was to contain the spread of COVID-19 as there were widespread community transmission in the country.

During the isolation strategy, thousands of children missed learning times, and business houses lost business hours and lose of employment were prevalent among others which affects the country's economy as a whole.

The Prime Minister in his response to this newsroom's questions also says the CVOD-19 strategies applied were international best practices- (Lockdown & Isolation Strategy) during this time of pandemic, but cases continue to rise.

Marape however blames the people for their ignorance in not complying with COVID-19 measures and protocols which resulted in the spike in COVID-19 cases and deaths in the country.

Prime Minister James Marape further says the government does not have the data to analyse the full extent of the impact of those two strategies on the business but says those were the best measures deplored to contain the virus.

Marape again assures the country, saying whilst the Parliament is in recession, he will commit 20 to 30 percent of his time to this exercise and urge the opposition to assist in containing the virus instead of barking at the government's efforts.

Meantime, the Opposition on numerous occasions had criticised government for mishandling the COVID-19 situation and have also accused the Marape government for downplaying the economy by imposing Lockdown and Isolation Strategy. 

Leader Beldon Namah earlier had called on the government to fund local medical scientists through the established Institute of Medical Research to conduct research into the trend in which the virus is spreading in the country, before implementing COVID-19 restrictions and measures including the roll out of vaccines.   

NBC News/  PNG Today

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