Asylum seekers in PNG scared and devastated after reportedly being held at gunpoint sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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The unfolding coronavirus crisis in Papua New Guinea presents an immediate danger to Australia and Canberra must act urgently to assist, say experts.
The number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Australia’s closest neighbour to the north has increased dramatically in recent days and the health system is on the verge of collapse.
With testing levels so low, there is no way of knowing the true extent of the virus spread in PNG, which experts say could be significantly worse than reported.
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On Monday the Queensland government said 250 out of 500 coronavirus tests they had done in laboratories there on behalf of PNG had returned a positive result.
A coronavirus emergency is unfolding in real-time on Australia s doorstep sbs.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sbs.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
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Papua New Guinea’s father of the nation and first prime minister Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare is in critical condition in a Port Moresby hospital and under palliative care.
The family of the 84-year-old has released a statement “so the public knows the exact extent of this terrible illness”.
Mr Somare was due to head overseas for treatment this week.
“It is with sadness that I advise… the serious illness pancreatic cancer that has befallen our father, Sir Michael, it is at a critical stage and we as a family, along with his medical teams, are giving him the utmost care that he deserves,” the family said in a statement.