Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
Know the disease, prevent the spread
Briefing for the PUBLIC
(The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Coronavirus and COVID-19
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses
which may cause illness in animals or humans.
In humans, several coronaviruses are known to
cause respiratory (lung) infections ranging from
the common cold to more severe diseases such
as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
COVID-19 is the infectious disease caused by
the most recently discovered coronavirus.
This new virus and disease were unknown
before the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in
December 2019.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Signs and symptoms
Most common symptoms of COVID-19: fever, tiredness, dry
cough
Some patients may have: aches and pains, nasal
congestion, runny nose, sore throat, diarrhea
These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.
Some people become infected but don’t develop any
symptoms and don't feel unwell.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Incubation period
The “incubation period” means the time between catching the
virus and beginning to have symptoms of the disease.
Most estimates of the incubation period for COVID-19 range from
1-14 days, most commonly around five days.
Some people infected with the virus but not having symptoms
(asymptomatic), but still are infectious (can still transmit the virus)
These estimates will be updated as more data become available.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Disease severity
Most people (about 80%)
recover from the disease
without special
treatment.
Around 1 out of every 5
people who gets COVID-
19 becomes seriously ill
and develops difficulty
breathing.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Disease severity
14% develop severe
disease that requires
hospitalization and
oxygen support
5% require admission to
an intensive care unit
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Risk to pregnant women and babies
(based on current information)
No evidence of vertical
transmission (mother-to-child)
has been documented
Few cases have been reported
among infants confirmed with
COVID-19 and experienced mild
illness.
No known difference between
clinical manifestations of
pregnant and non-pregnant
women or adults of reproductive
age
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Risk to children
(based on current information)
Children & young adults
have been infected with
COVID-19, though at lower
rates than older adults.
While the vast majority
have experienced mild
disease, some have
experienced severe or
critical disease.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
High risk groups
Older people, and those
with underlying medical
problems like high blood
pressure, heart problems or
diabetes, are more likely to
develop serious illness.
People with fever, cough
and difficulty breathing
should seek medical
attention.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
How the virus spreads (1)
People can catch COVID-19
from others who have the
virus.
The disease can spread
from person to person
through small droplets
from the nose or mouth
which are spread when a
person with COVID-19
coughs or exhales.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
How the virus spreads (2)
Droplets can land on objects and surfaces
around the person. Other people then
catch COVID-19 by touching these objects
or surfaces, then touching their eyes,
nose or mouth.
People can also catch COVID-19 if they
breathe in droplets from a person with
COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales
droplets.
This is why it is important to stay more
than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person WHO is assessing ongoing research on
who is sick. the ways COVID-19 is spread and will
continue to share updated findings.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Vaccine or Treatment
To date, there is no vaccine and
no specific antiviral medicine
to prevent or treat COVID-19.
However, those affected should
receive care to relieve
symptoms.
People with serious illness
should be hospitalized.
Most patients recover with
supportive care.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
What individuals can do to prevent (1)
Wash your hands frequently with alcohol-based hand rub or
soap and water
Why? Washing your hands with alcohol-based hand
rub or soap and water kills the virus if it is on your
hands.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces which can be
contaminated with the virus. If you touch your
eyes, nose or mouth with your contaminated
hands, you can transfer the virus from the
surface to yourself.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
What individuals can do to prevent (2)
Maintain physical distancing – maintain 1 – 2
meters distance between yourself and other
people, particularly those that are coughing,
sneezing and have a fever
Why? When someone sneezes or coughs,
small droplets carrying the virus can
project resulting in one becoming
contaminated with the person’s
secretions if a certain distance isn’t
maintained
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
What individuals can do to prevent (3)
• Local practices like chewing
betel nut and spitting and
sharing of lime and cigarettes
can be potential sources of
transmission (saliva)
• Smoking is an underlying
condition to worsening outcome
of COVID-19 aside from the
many known negative effects of
smoking
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
What individuals can do (4)
Avoid large crowds and
mass gatherings (e.g.,
cultural and religious
gatherings, sports
events, big meetings and
workshops, etc)
Practice physical
distancing (e.g, no
handshake, just a nod or
bow)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
What individuals (breastfeeding moms) can
do (5)
Breastfeeding provides additional
protection to babies
Breastfeeding should be initiated
within 1 hour of birth
Exclusive breastfeeding should
continue for 6 months with timely
introduction of adequate, safe and
properly fed complementary foods
at age 6 months, while continuing
breastfeeding up to 12 months
Follow standard infection prevention
and control(IPC) practices
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Keeping safe at work
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
If you are sick
If you have mild symptoms of fever,
cough but no difficulty of breathing
Stay home and isolate yourself
(self-quarantine)
Rest and sleep well
Take paracetamol for fever
Drink lots of fluids for
hydration
Avoid public transport
Practice the infection
prevention and control so that
you will prevent infecting
others
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
If you are sick and travelled in the past 14 days
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing,
and just travelled in the last 14 days, call the
hotline:
-- 71960813 (Digicel)
-- 019 (Telikom toll free number)
-- 1800200 (Digicel toll free number)
Seek medical care early
Why? Whenever you have fever, cough and
difficulty breathing it’s important to seek
medical attention promptly as this may be
due to COVID or other serious condition.
Wear medical mask and follow the advice
regarding appropriate mask management
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Advice for the SICK persons
Clean hands frequently with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand rub.
Stay at home; do not attend work, school or public places.
Rest, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious food.
Ideally stay in a separated room from other family members. If not possible, the ill
person should keep a distance of at least 1 meter (3 feet) from others and wear a
medical mask.
Sneeze or cough into a flexed elbow, or use a disposable tissue and discard it
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
immediately into a closed
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
bin. Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Advice for all members of the household
Frequently wash Avoid exposure Cover mouth Monitor their
hands with soap to the ill person and nose with health for
and water, and avoid flexed elbow or symptoms like
especially after: sharing items tissues when fever, cough,
(e.g. eating coughing or and difficulty
- coughing or sneezing
- before, during and after
utensils, dishes, sneezing. breathing.
you prepare food drinks, towels).
-before eating
- after using toilet
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Advice for the caregiver
The caregiver should be one person only (if possible) who is in good health. The
caregiver should…
Make sure the ill person rests, drinks plenty of fluids and eats nutritious food.
Wear a medical mask when in the same room with the ill person. Do not touch the
mask during use. Masks should be discarded after use.
Clean hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub after any type of contact
with the ill person or their surroundings; before, during and after preparing food;
before eating; and after using the toilet.
Use dedicated dishes, cups, eating utensils, towels and bedlinens for the ill person.
Wash dishes, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedlinens used by the ill person with
soap and water.
Identify frequently touched surfaces (such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs,
bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, and bedside tables). Regularly
clean and disinfect the surfaces frequently touched by the ill person.
Contact your health care facility or doctor if the ill person worsens or experiences
difficulty breathing.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Advice on Use of Masks in the
Community Setting
Routine use of
medical mask is
not required in
community, as no
evidence is
available on its
usefulness to
protect non-sick
persons.
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
• AN
Answers to Frequently Asked
Questions, Myths and Rumors
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Answers to FAQs/Myths/Rumors (1)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Answers to FAQs/Myths/Rumors (2)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Answers to FAQs/Myths/Rumors (3)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Answers to FAQs/Myths/Rumors (4)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Answers to FAQs/Myths/Rumors (5)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Summary
Protect yourself and your family from COVID, here are the simple steps:
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Reminder…
If you have fever, cough and difficulty
breathing, and just travelled in the last 14
days, call the hotline:
-- 71960813 (Digicel)
-- 019 (Telikom toll free number)
-- 1800200 (Digicel toll free number)
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
THANK YOU
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
• AN
On the PNG
Preparedness Plan
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)
Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
Planning Scenarios
Code Scenario
ALERT No case of COVID-19 in PNG
(Cases are reported outside of Papua New Guinea)
CONTAINMENT Confirmed case of COVID-19 in PNG
(At least one case confirmed in PNG)
MITIGATION Community spread of COVID-19
(Human-to-human transmission in clusters within the
community)
RECOVERY Epidemic bought under control globally
PNG is currently on CONTAINMENT (Orange zone) – one case reported
Transition from CONTAINMENT (Orange zone) to MITIGATION (Red zone) can
be very quick – possibly a matter of few days
Priority is to mitigate health, social and economic impact
COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response (The information in the slide set is based on what is known as of 19 March 2020.
PAPUA NEW GUINEA Updates will be made as soon as new information is available)