By HARLYNE JOKU
LAE MP and Lands Minister, John Rosso has warned COVID-19 is not a joke or a scam as he was a recent victim of a serious strain of COVID-19 and would like to share his experience.
The Lae MP released a statement on his Facebook Page on Saturday March 6 of his experience with COVID-19 as the Morobe Provincial Emergency Operations Committee (MPEOC) announced two weeks lockdown period following a spike in the community transmission of COVID-19 being reported in Lae, Huon Gulf and Nawaeb districts.
“As a responsible leader, I would like to inform my people for my absence in public in Lae over the past month since 6th of February, 2021. I was just recently cleared from isolation and treatment for COVID-19 at Pacific International Hospital. I would like to share my experiences to encourage our residents to take preventive measures seriously.
“Many of you think COVID-19 is a joke. I contracted a serious strain of COVID-19. I don’t know how I caught it but it must have been in NCD or Jiwaka,” Mr Rosso said.
“Unfortunately, my job as a politician means interacting with a lot of people in a crown and shaking hands. I like many others didn’t take wearing masks or using hands sanitizers seriously.
“COVID-19 comes in two types. One is mild where you don’t show symptoms but are asymptomatic. This can be treated by isolation so you don’t spread it to loved ones and others.
“I unfortunately contracted the serious strain; I was a bit down with stress and malaria and it combined to weaken my immune system. Its worse than dengue and malaria but the symptoms are similar like shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting.
Mr Rosso said on the 6th of February he was feeling feverish. He was treated at Lae Hospital, put on drip and discharged. On the 7th of February he had blood samples taken for malaria and dengue fever.
On the 8th of February, he flew to Port Moresby and went for a COVID-19 test at the Pacific International Hospital. His results came back positive and he was isolated the same day until 3am. He was then discharged and went home to self-isolation.
From the 10th to the 14th of February Minister Rosso was at home in isolation suffering from symptoms – feverish, tiredness, headache, coughing, sleeping half the time and having loss of appetite.
On the 15th of February the symptoms worsened.
“ I had shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting and was admitted to hospital around 9pm,” he said.
“On the 22nd of February COVID-19 Tests were done and my results came back as positive. After two days on the 28th of February, COVID-19 tests were done again and the result was negative. I was discharged from hospital.
“From the 01st to 8th of March, the Doctor’s advice was for me to self-isolate and do breathing exercise to help my lungs recover.
“I am now cleared after being tested and discharged from hospital but slowly recovering as I am pretty weak and still have difficulty breathing.
“I urge you my people of Lae to seriously take heed of preventive measures ordered by the authorities so we can help stop the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 is not a joke or SCAM as many would say,” he said.
Also Oro Governor, Garry Juffa also admitted on his Facebook page yesterday (Saturday March 6) that he had COVID-19.
“I had COVID. I am now COVID free for 13 days now. I am not sure where I contracted it, but gave all details for contact tracing to the NDOH who are doing the best they can despite circumstances. I was tested positive in Port Moresby and so cancelled all my programs back home in Oro and isolated myself as advised by the NDOH.
“It is no laughing matter. I don’t wish it upon anyone. I was fortunate it was not as bad as others. I am still not 100% well although am medically cleared of COVID now,” Juffa said.
PNG reported at least 260 new Covid-19 cases in the seven days ending on Feb. 28, its largest weekly rise, raising concerns the pandemic is worsening.
With fears growing the virus may spread eastwards to other Pacific nations, the outbreak could have geopolitical implications.
According to a World Health Organization report dated March 1, “there are currently surges in several provinces across PNG, with major outbreaks in the National Capital District,” which includes the capital Port Moresby and provinces bordering Indonesia. Infected patients include a large number of health-care workers, prisoners and people on mine sites, the report said.
A separate report from health authorities seen shows the number of virus cases nearly doubled every week in February.
Further, the President of Bougainville, Ishmael Toroama, says Buka town could go into a 14-day lock down as health officials try and stem a surge in Covid-19 infections.
President Toroama’s executive is considering such a move.
He said the last official figures for autonomous region of Bougainville were 40 cases of the coronavrius – a rise from just three last Thursday.
Toroama said Bougainville’s health officials had been trying to convince people to wear masks, wash their hands and maintain social distance.
There had been criticism of Bougainvilleans failing to respond to the Covid-19 surge but Toroama said Buka town could go into a full 14-day, lockdown.
Meanwhile, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Sogavare also raised issues of concern at the Solomon Islands/PNG border.
Sogovare briefed PNG’s new high commissioner to Solomon Islands, Moses Kaul of the advice to step up surveillance at the border because of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in Bougainville.