Papua New Guinea health authorities have issued a warning to frontliners to get vaccinated against Covid-19 after six staff at the national pandemic control centre tested positive for the virus.
Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Testing for Covid-19 recently scaled right back as PNG's confirmed case numbers and deaths approached 18,000 and 200 respectively.
Community transmission was already understood to be widespread in March, but health authorities have reacted sternly to the new cases among control centre staff in Port Moresby.
The Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom said the six staff who tested positive were all unvaccinated, and that this placed their colleagues and surrounding community at greater risk of infection.
He said everyone working at the Centre was now required to have had a first dose of a Covid vaccine by the end of the month, or be subject to frequent testing for the virus.
"Everyone working at the NCC must have at least their first vaccine dose by August 31," Dr Esorom explained.
"Those not vaccinated will be required to take a Covid-19 test every three days in order to provide ongoing reassurance that they do not pose a risk to their fellow workers, particularly as we face the threat of a Delta variant spread.
"Anyone who fails to take a test when directed will not be allowed into the workplace, and their employment at the NCC will be discontinued. This is just common sense, either you are vaccinated or you are tested every three days."
Rights and workplace safety
Vaccination is not mandatory in PNG, and the take-up of Covid vaccines has been slow, even among health workers.
So far, a little over 94-thousand people, or around 1 percent of the population, have been vaccinated against Covid in PNG. They are mainly essential workers and health workers.
Dr Esorom acknowledged that PNG's Prime Minister James Marape had made it clear that freedom of choice on vaccines was a basic human right and that this would be respected.
"Another human right is for our people to go to their workplaces and local shops without the risk of being infected by someone carrying Covid-19.
"Along these lines, the Prime Minister has also confirmed that employers have the right to enact measures that will protect workers from Covid-19 infection."
"Every employer has a duty of care for all staff, and we cannot have a situation where unvaccinated people risk spreading the virus to their workmates. This is also about respect for fellow workers and yourself."
