PNG COVID: Torres Strait Mayor Phillemon Mosby’s ‘no confidence’ in screening

The mayor of a Far North council says he does not have confidence in Papua New Guinea’s COVID screening as the Federal Health Minister warned of “a clear and present danger” on our doorstep.

THE mayor of a Far Northern regional council is not feeling confident about screening to track COVID in the region’s nearest neighbour, in the wake of a recent code yellow at Cairns Hospital.

Queensland Health recently declared a Code Yellow at Cairns Hospital after an influx of road crash victims and COVID cases from a Papua New Guinea mine site stretched resources.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman said three COVID-19 patients were being managed in Cairns Hospital and four COVID-19 patients have been transferred from Cairns to other Queensland hospitals, including two transferred during the Code Yellow at Cairns Hospital last week.

“Cairns Hospital is well prepared to respond to a potential increase in COVID-19 cases while continuing to provide excellent health care for our community,” the spokeswoman said.

MORE NEWS

How online videos saved Weipa man from croc

Missing adventurers’ one regret after rescue

Heartbreak over death of turf club larrikin

As Health Minister Greg Hunt described the spiralling COVID crisis in Papua New Guinea as a “clear and present danger,” Mayor Phillemon Mosby of the Torres Strait Island Regional Council said he was concerned about the looming catastrophe in PNG and the information available to his own constituents in the five island group of the nation’s northernmost council area.

Three of the islands; Saibai, Dauan and Boigu, are short boat rides from the PNG south coast.

“We don’t feel comfortable or confident with the screening that is in place (in PNG) at the moment,” Cr Mosby said.

“But the borders are closed at the moment and there is a presence of Border Force and other federal agencies; a strong footprint at Saibai.

“We know it will take some time for the globalisation of the vaccine and we don’t want suggestions to open the borders early.

“We need to be vigilant.”

He said residents were concerned over reports about the suspension of the AstraZenica vaccine in Europe.

“I think the biggest challenge is building confidence in the vaccine; there is a lack of information, we need to give people time to process it,” Cr Mosby said.

“There has been a lot of planning with Queensland Health to ensure information is available in Creole; English is a fourth or fifth language for many here.”

A fast-tracked vaccination program is being rolled out in the Torres Strait. Saibai Island jabs officially started on Monday after a soft launch on Thursday Island last week.

Originally published as PNG COVID: Torres Strait Mayor Phillemon Mosby’s ‘no confidence’ in screening