News Muncher - searching for covid

2 years, 2 months ago

Traditional travel between Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea villages resumes after two-and-a-half years

ABC

Free movement between Australia's northernmost islands and coastal villages in Papua New Guinea has resumed after a two-and-a-half-year hiatus. Key points: Traditional cultural travel under the Torres Strait Treaty was suspended in March 2020 Inhabitants of the Torres Strait and coastal PNG villages have agreed to its resumption Health authorities say island communities are highly vaccinated and medical services are …

Travel Traditional Island Torres Png Treaty Papua New Guinea

2 years, 3 months ago

Papua New Guinea earthquake kills at least seven

ABC

At least seven people are dead after a magnitude-7.6 earthquake in eastern Papua New Guinea, which also injured others and damaged property and essential infrastructure. Key points: The earthquake hit about 67km east of Kainantu and 80km north-west of Lae at about 9:45am local time Significant damage to buildings and roads and landslides were reported in Morobe, Eastern Highlands and …

Province Png Papua New Guinea Earthquake Damage Eastern Highlands Madang Lae

3 years, 1 month ago

In remote Pacific islands, businesses look local to survive COVID

Al Jazeera

Pacific island nations saw their economies shrink an estimated 5.8 percent in 2020 amid a collapse in tourism. “All the business come back when the borders are open.” Businesses in Vanuatu, like those in other remote Pacific island nations that heavily rely on visitors, will be dealing with adversity for some time yet. Vanuatu and fellow Pacific Island nations Papua …

Tourism Pacific Island French Nations Fiji Vanuatu Png

3 years, 1 month ago

Pacific nations face tough road ahead with COVID-19 vaccinations, Lowy Institute finds

ABC

New research suggests that some Melanesian nations may take years to achieve even basic COVID-19 vaccination coverage, hampering their economic recovery and raising the risk of new variants emerging close to Australia's shores. Key points: The Lowy Institute predicts only a third of Papua New Guinea's adult population will be fully vaccinated by April 2026 Social media has driven vaccine …

Australia Vaccines Pacific Island Institute Next Year Vaccine Fiji

3 years, 1 month ago

Papua New Guinea health services struggling to cope with Delta outbreak

ABC

COVID-19 cases are surging across Papua New Guinea, with all major hospitals struggling to cope as the Delta variant spreads across the country. Key points: Hospitals around PNG are overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients Less than 2 per cent of PNG's total population is fully vaccinated There are high rates of hesitancy and fear about the vaccines It has prompted a …

Health Port Country Vaccines Covid Village Surge

3 years, 2 months ago

Papua New Guinea: Covid controller apologises to Hindu community for letter that prevented Durga Puja calling 'idol worship is inappropriate'

Op India

Papua New Guinea COVID controller David Manning recently issued an apology letter after a previous letter signed by him denied permission to the nation’s Hindus from holding Durga Puja, saying idol worshipping is “morally inappropriate and against Christian values”. The denial for Durga puja celebrations sparked outrage among residents, following which Manning issued an apology letter and termed the previous …

Puja Hindu Christian Covid Durga Puja Durga Letter

3 years, 5 months ago

Battling COVID-19 and a tuberculosis diagnosis, Dika Toua is set to make history at the Tokyo Olympics

ABC

One morning in 2013, Papua New Guinean weightlifter Dika Toua threw up blood. "Being recognised as the first woman to attend five Olympic Games, it's incredible because it brings back a lot of memories," she said. It will be the second time Toua sets a world record – when she was just 16, she became the first female weightlifter to …

Olympics World Australia Olympic Games Olympic Pacific Tokyo

3 years, 5 months ago

China accuses Australia of COVID-19 vaccine sabotage in the Pacific

ABC

The Australian government has denied accusations it has been "sabotaging" China's aid programs with Pacific nations and using "political manipulation" to interfere in COVID-19 vaccine rollouts in the region. Key points: Articles in Chinese state-run media accuse Australia of undermining vaccine cooperation between China and Pacific island countries Australia flatly denies the accusation, saying it is "absolutely not the case" …

China Australia Vaccines Pacific Island Pacific Chinese Beijing

3 years, 6 months ago

With their AstraZeneca supplies nearing expiration, PNG comes up with creative ways to vaccinate people

ABC

A bright yellow bus rolls down a dusty road in Pari Village in Port Moresby. "The expiry date is a concern," the country's COVID-19 Incident Manager Dr Daoni Esorom said. "If you put the due date of the vaccine to the side, it's still important to get the right message across, that's critical," he said. PNG is also promoting what …

Health Social Media Port Country Vaccines Bus Village

3 years, 7 months ago

China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine launches in the Pacific

ABC

A Chinese COVID-19 vaccine has been launched in the Pacific, with the Deputy Prime Minister of Solomon Islands receiving the first Sinopharm shot in the region. Key points: Tens of thousands of doses of Sinopharm have been donated to Solomon Islands and PNG Australia has pledged to donate its locally made AstraZeneca vaccine to Pacific nations Pacific leaders have rejected …

Health China Vaccines Pacific Countries Chinese Beijing

3 years, 7 months ago

Concerns hundreds of COVID-19 cases missing from PNG's national tally

ABC

Nestled in Papua New Guinea's remote highlands region, the Mount Hagen Hospital has about 250 beds and services about half a million people. New data collection system set to be introduced Dr Esorom said a new data collection system was being introduced this week to help address the problem, and that 22 surveillance officers were also being hired to work …

Health Data National Cases Testing Hospital Data Collection

3 years, 8 months ago

Torres Strait COVID-19 vaccine program won't resume until mid-May

ABC

The COVID-19 mass vaccination rollout in the Torres Strait is not expected to resume until mid-May. Queensland COVID-19 snapshot In latest reporting period: Deaths: 11 11 New cases: 5,698 Queensland's vaccine rollout: First dose: 93.2 per cent 93.2 per cent Second dose: 92.7 per cent Latest case information from Queensland Health. Queensland Health said they had suspended the program in …

Health Community Vaccination Covid Queensland Vaccine Program

3 years, 8 months ago

PNG facing AstraZeneca vaccine hesitancy as some locals refuse to take jab amid rollout

ABC

Australia's decision to limit the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in people under 50 has created vaccine hesitancy in Papua New Guinea, where the government is continuing with its rollout of the jab. Key points: As many as 8442 people have been infected with COVID-19 in the country and 69 people have died Many in PNG want more evidence the …

Health Work Fiji Png Astrazeneca Health Experts Vaccine Hesitancy

3 years, 8 months ago

PNG hospitals under pressure amid surging COVID-19 cases, with patients calling out for help

ABC

It was nighttime when Donna Kawabata took her husband, who had been struggling with fever and flu symptoms, to the Rita Flynn COVID-19 field hospital in Port Moresby. 'Don't leave me' The Rita Flynn Field Hospital was set up to deal with mild and moderate cases, but as the numbers of patients in PNG has surged, it has had to …

Health Cases Patients Workers Testing Hospital Covid

3 years, 8 months ago

Australia to supply doses of domestically manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Melanesian countries, including PNG and Timor-Leste

ABC

The federal government has promised to start distributing more COVID-19 vaccines to Pacific Island nations later this month as both Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste fight major outbreaks. Aid groups have welcomed the support for PNG, and the government's promise to roll out vaccines in other Melanesian countries A government spokesperson told the ABC that 10,000 locally manufactured AstraZeneca doses …

Vaccines Pacific Island Covid Nations Png Guinea Papua New Guinea

3 years, 8 months ago

Australian medical team head to PNG to aid COVID response

ABC

A specialist Australian medical team and critical equipment have been flown to Papua New Guinea to help respond to the country's surging coronavirus cases. Key points: 17 AUSMAT specialists have flown to PNG with medical equipment to assist the coronavirus response The country has recently recorded a spike in coronavirus cases The team will spend four weeks in PNG, joining …

Medical Team Covid Aid Png Papua New Guinea Coronavirus Response

3 years, 8 months ago

Papua New Guinea's COVID cases are driven by misinformation — we need tech companies to help

ABC

Here in Western Province in PNG, a stone's throw from the Australian mainland, things are looking alarming. PNG's COVID outbreak Photo shows Woman, two children and two men face camera in front of house. The politicians in Papua New Guinea and the Department of Health have tried their best to use social media to spread facts about COVID-19, but it …

Children Media Social Misinformation Covid Know Half

3 years, 8 months ago

As COVID-19 continues its deadly march through PNG, its health system remains in a 'perpetual state of disaster'

ABC

It's 9.30am outside the Rita Flynn Sporting Complex in Port Moresby. Key points: After initial delays, the PNG Government this month signed regulatory approvals needed to bring in the vaccine After initial delays, the PNG Government this month signed regulatory approvals needed to bring in the vaccine Australia flew in 8,000 doses for frontline workers Australia flew in 8,000 doses …

Health Patients Workers Port Hospital Vaccines Covid

3 years, 8 months ago

Wealthy countries 'are buying up far more COVID-19 vaccines than they need' — and that's bad news for the end of the pandemic

ABC

Getting COVID-19 vaccine doses into arms is cracking along in some countries, but in the poorest, it's barely started at all. Key points: COVAX was set up in April last year, and Australia is one of the 190 countries to have signed up Experts say it is not having the desired effect, because wealthy countries are stockpiling more vaccines than …

Pandemic Intellectual Property Property Vaccines Countries End Covid

3 years, 8 months ago

Queensland authorities identify COVID-19 strain linked to Papua New Guinea

ABC

Queensland Health says a new strain of COVID-19 detected in travellers from Papua New Guinea isn't a "lineage of concern". Key points: Travel between PNG and Australia is restricted A viral strain from PNG has been found in some cases in Queensland Queensland virologist Kirsty Short says as the virus spreads, more strains and mutations will emerge PNG has a …

Health Cases Virus Strain Png Papua New Guinea Queensland Health

3 years, 9 months ago

As COVID-19 rips through PNG, I am praying the virus doesn't reach my family

ABC

All it took was a cough from my brother for all my fears about the COVID-19 outbreak in Papua New Guinea to race through my mind. Many of my friends and family members who have possible coronavirus symptoms choose not to get tested, including my brother who simply stayed at home while he was sick and inhaled hot steam to …

Family Port Covid Virus Abc My Brother Png

3 years, 9 months ago

Victoria is COVID-free for the first time this year. Here's what happens next

ABC

Victoria is COVID-free for the first time this year, after the Health Department declared the final active case in the state had recovered. The health department said on Monday night that "almost all" current hotel quarantine workers had already had the first jab. Professor Baxter said if all workers had at least had their first vaccination injection, the outbreak risk …

Vaccination Quarantine Hotel Think Melbourne Victoria Vaccine

3 years, 9 months ago

Port Moresby hospital warns of COVID patients dying in car parks as PNG suffers coronavirus surge

ABC

The number of daily COVID-19 infections in Papua New Guinea has reached a record high, with 295 cases recorded in a 24-hour period. Key points: COVID-19 patients are being treated outside isolation wards in Port Moresby A photo of a dying woman at the hospital has led to public outcry Hospital workers say they are overwhelmed, and are predicting a …

Health Hospital Covid Png Papua New Guinea Port Moresby Unexpected Deaths

3 years, 9 months ago

Coronavirus infections are reaching a tipping point in PNG. Can a catastrophe on our doorstep be prevented?

ABC

For almost a year, PNG appeared to escape the worst ravages of the coronavirus pandemic, but the numbers now coming out of Port Moresby General Hospital are staggering and frightening. PNG's young average population, early border closures, low testing rates and the fact many people are less likely to seek help for health conditions have all been attributed to the …

Health Coronavirus Cases Workers Country Hospital Vaccines

Filters

Articles for Png, search results for covid

Traditional travel between Torres Strait and Papua New Guinea villages resumes after two-and-a-half years

Papua New Guinea earthquake kills at least seven

In remote Pacific islands, businesses look local to survive COVID

Pacific nations face tough road ahead with COVID-19 vaccinations, Lowy Institute finds

Papua New Guinea health services struggling to cope with Delta outbreak

Papua New Guinea: Covid controller apologises to Hindu community for letter that prevented Durga Puja calling 'idol worship is inappropriate'

Battling COVID-19 and a tuberculosis diagnosis, Dika Toua is set to make history at the Tokyo Olympics

China accuses Australia of COVID-19 vaccine sabotage in the Pacific

With their AstraZeneca supplies nearing expiration, PNG comes up with creative ways to vaccinate people

China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine launches in the Pacific

Concerns hundreds of COVID-19 cases missing from PNG's national tally

Torres Strait COVID-19 vaccine program won't resume until mid-May

PNG facing AstraZeneca vaccine hesitancy as some locals refuse to take jab amid rollout

PNG hospitals under pressure amid surging COVID-19 cases, with patients calling out for help

Australia to supply doses of domestically manufactured COVID-19 vaccines to Melanesian countries, including PNG and Timor-Leste

Australian medical team head to PNG to aid COVID response

Papua New Guinea's COVID cases are driven by misinformation — we need tech companies to help

As COVID-19 continues its deadly march through PNG, its health system remains in a 'perpetual state of disaster'

Wealthy countries 'are buying up far more COVID-19 vaccines than they need' — and that's bad news for the end of the pandemic

Queensland authorities identify COVID-19 strain linked to Papua New Guinea

As COVID-19 rips through PNG, I am praying the virus doesn't reach my family

Victoria is COVID-free for the first time this year. Here's what happens next

Port Moresby hospital warns of COVID patients dying in car parks as PNG suffers coronavirus surge

Coronavirus infections are reaching a tipping point in PNG. Can a catastrophe on our doorstep be prevented?