OFFICE OF THE CONTROLLER
PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response
Joint Agency Task Force
Media Statement
Tuesday 19th January 2021
Papua New Guinea reported eight new case of 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, a 58-year-old female health care worker who resides in Moresby -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 Province | 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 Province | 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.