News and Public Notices

I Clement Totavun, Secretary for Health, and delegated Regional Pandemic Controller by Office of Chief Secretary under Section 14 and Section 56 (c), of the Bougainville Public Service (Management & Administration) Act 2014, hereby issue the Bougainville Supplementary Pandemic Measures in support of the National Pandemic Measures as issued by Mr David Manning MBE QPM DPS, National Pandemic Controller in response to the surge in Covid-19 and Delta Variant: 

1. The Covid-19 Emergency Response Team (ERT) must step up compulsory Covid-19 contact tracing and testing at the Regional Triage Centres in Arawa, Buka and Buin.

2. It is mandatory for the ERT Teams to collect swabs on any patients who exhibit Influenza Like Illness (ILIs), simple cough, pneumonia, and Severe Acute Respiratory Infections (SARI) when attended to at the regional health facilities at Buka, Arawa and Buin, and based on referrals from District Health facilities.

3. All domestic flights into Buka or Aropa airports must comply with the following requirements:

• Hygiene and social distancing restriction issued by the Controller;
• All passengers must fill and complete a Domestic Health Declaration form which are to be presented to the Quarantine Officials on arrival in Buka or Aropa airports;
• A person must have a valid reason for travel as listed in Schedule 1.

4. Pursuant to paragraph 6 of National Pandemic Measure No 3, a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or GeneXpert test as outlined in Schedule 2 must be done in the province of departure within 48 - 72 hours prior to boarding a flight to Bougainville. Tests can be done by designated testing sites outlined in Schedule 3 of National Pandemic Measure No 07 of 2021.

5. Consistent with paragraph 3, all inbound passengers arriving in Bougainville through the airports and seaports must have a valid negative test result for Covid-19 and this must be presented to quarantine officials on arrival.

 

6. The role of the Gazetted National Dep’t of Health Quarantine Officer is hereby affirmed consistent with the Quarantine Act 1953 to continue to maintain quarantine checks at points of entry, and maintain safety standards inspection as part of implementing the ‘Niupla Pasin’ protocols.

7. As part of the Covid-19 Public Health Measures the following must be observed and adhered to by all persons in schools, churches, sea ports, airports, business houses, work places, social clubs, restaurants, public parks and markets, towns, and other public gathering spaces:

• Social distancing of 1metre – 2metres,
• Mandatory body temperature checks,
• Mandatory Wearing of face masks or shields in crowded public places,
• Hand washing facilities and resources,
• Covid-19 awareness materials.

8. The National Mandatory Masks Directive issued on 20 September, 2021 under National Pandemic Measures is hereby adopted for compulsory implementation within the Pandemic Period in defined establishment. A list of defined establishment for practice of mandatory face masks or covering is listed in Schedule 4.

9. Children under age of 12 and those listed under Schedule 5 are exempted from wearing a mask or face shield.

10. A persons is exempted from wearing masks or face covering when he or she removes it to eat, drink or take medication.

11. Persons who have tested positive for Covid-19 infection are encouraged to comply with the strict 14 days self-quarantine until further checks on their status is determined by the medical officers.

12. Deliberate spreading of Covid-19 infection by persons who have tested positive will be dealt with under Section 33 Sub section 4 of the National Pandemic Act 2020, and will be spot fined a penalty fee of K10,000.00.

13. All Urban Community Governments in three (3) Regions (North, Central, South) will take the lead in implementing the public health measures, water, sanitation and hygiene measures in towns and districts across Bougainville

14. Venues or parts of venue that operate for the purpose of sale and consumption of alcohol with food, may operate subject to:

• All persons on entry and exit from venues must wash their hands with soap or hand sanitiser; and
• Follow all other hygiene standards as issued by Controller.

15. Local religious activities may continue to organise their gatherings but must observe and adhere to the following measures:

• Social distancing of at least 1.5 meters between each persons;
• All persons that enters and exit a church building or gathering must wash hands with soap or sanitiser;
• Follow all other hygiene measures as issued by the Controller.

 

16. The Motor Traffic Act 1950, and relevant regulations in the land transport sector will be enforced by the Bougainville Police Service through its Traffic Division to ensure there is no overcrowding, and other related traffic related offences.

17. All domestic vessels may berth at the ports of entry in Buka and Loloho, Kieta, and Kangu Ports to allow for routine quarantine checks. No shipping crews will be allowed to disembark the ships without proper quarantine checks.

18. Pursuant to Paragraph 19, all foreign vessels must still be cleared at anchorage.

19. All small crafts moving between nearby Maritime Provinces and Bougainville must comply with endorsed Covid-19 public health measures.

20. For the purpose of repatriation of human remains (deceased persons) into and out of Bougainville, the documents listed in Schedule 6 must be presented to the quarantine officials prior to repatriation.

21. All human remains (deceased persons) that was confirmed to be Covid-19 related must not be touched by any persons, until burial.

22. In the event of lack of compliance with the Public Health Measures, the Bougainville Police Service under its community policing program will intervene to ensure peace, order, and stability within the three (3) regions consistent with the National Pandemic Act 2020 and other related law enforcement Act to ensure compliance and adherence to the quarantine and public health protocols.

For your immediate cooperation and support.

 

Authorised by:

Mr Clement Totavun                                           

Regional Pandemic Controller

Secretary, Health                                                  

 

Schedule 1: Valid reason for Domestic Air Travel

• Students returning to their usual place of residence or returning to their educational institution (one-way tickets to be issued);
• Persons returning to their usual residence;
• Essential business travel;
• Seeking medical assistance and medivac;
• Emergency transport, but not limited to repatriation of deceased persons.

Schedule 2: Covid-19 Authorised Testing Equipment

• Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR)
• GeneXpert
• Rapid diagnostic test (RDT)

Schedule 3: Approved Persons and Organisation to Conduct Covid-19 Testing

• National Department of Health
• Institute of Medical Research PNG
• Provincial Health Authorities (approved Covid-19 testing sites by Provincial Controller)
• Buka General Hospital – Covid-19 Triage Centre
• Port Moresby General Hospital
• St John Ambulance
• Ok Tedi Mining
• Simberi Gold
• 2K Medical Clinic
• New Crest Mining
• K92 Mining
• Sky Health and Medical Services
• Morobe Consolidated Goldfields Ltd
• Pacific International Hospital
• Exxon Mobil
• ASPEN Medical

Schedule 4: List of Defined Establishment for Practice of National Mandatory Masks or Face Covering

• Premises or any portion thereof which are used as a place of business for the sale or offering for sale of goods or services, and includes a mall or similar structure which contains multiple places of business;
• Health facilities;
• Sporting facilities;
• Churches, mosques, synagogues, temples, or other places of worship;
• Community centres including indoor recreational facilities;
• Libraries, art galleries, museums, zoos, and other similar facilities;
• Convention centres, arenas, stadiums, and other event spaces; and
• Government facilities.

Schedule 5: List of Persons Exempted from Wearing Masks or Face Shields

• Children Under 12;
• All early childhood and elementary school students are exempted from wearing masks with only social distancing and hand washing practised;
• Primary school students below 12 years old are exempted from wearing a face masks or shields;
• Persons with underlying medical conditions which inhibit their ability to wear a Mask or Face covering, including persons with physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability
• Persons who are unable to place or remove a Mask or Face Covering without assistance;
• Persons undergoing dental treatment or other medical care to the extent that the procedure requires that no face covering be worn;
• Persons within an area of work designated for them and not for public access, and who can work in an environment whereby they are a minimum of 2 meters from any other person;
• Persons participating in sporting activities;
• When directed to remove face covering to ascertain identity; and
• During emergencies.

Schedule 6: Requirement for uplift of Human Remains

• Death certificate
• Sealing certificate
• Warrant to burial

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