The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) in collaboration with PNG Defence Force, Police, National Transport Authority and Pacific Corporate Security, is strictly enforcing revised National Pandemic Orders released on March 22, 2021 to combat widespread community transmission of Covid-19 in the city.
The orders include mandatory wearing of face masks, social distancing, restricted public gathering and removal of illegal vending in public places.
NCDC with the help of its stakeholders, has set up tents at bus-stops and betelnut markets to ensure that city residents adhere to the National Pandemic orders.
The teams have been mobilized across the city to disperse unnecessary loitering and shut down illegal markets that have no control measures in place.
NCDC Environmental health officer Abraham Keple who has been assigned to these tents said these illegal markets attract a huge crowd, blatantly violating Covid-19 protocols.
“We have no control over the pop up markets along reserved lands, bus stops areas and road sides,” said Keple.
“To mitigate community transmission of Covid-19, all these illegal marketing and gathering have to be stopped and that is what the enforcement team is doing,” he said.
The teams have begun removing the illegal markets and will continue to monitor certain locations for a duration of one month.
These areas are Erima Flyover, Six-Mile bus stop, Taurama Foodland, Hohola near the National Housing Commission flats, Garden Hills, Five-Mile NHC Flats and Boroko area.
Mr Keple said an intensive city-wide awareness has been carried out already and failure to comply with Covid-19 protocols has resulted in the closure of illegal markets.
“Covid-19 is real and is here so we have to enforce the law to protect our city residents from getting infected through community transmission,” said Mr Keple.