Papua New Guinea authorities have warned against coronavirus complacency and are urging people to get COVID-19 tests and follow health safety rules as virus cases surge.
There were 49 new cases reported in the Pacific nation on Tuesday, taking the national total to 1741, with 21 deaths so far, PNG newspaper The National reports.
Pandemic Response Controller David Manning said that while there were no plans yet to restrict the movement of people, "they need to listen and adhere to the protocols in place".
"I have been warning (about) our ignorance and complacency towards the measures. This is the result," Manning told The National.
He warned that COVID-19 spread quickly at gatherings and urged everyone to follow the public health safety rules such as the wearing of face masks, physical distancing and hand washing.
Health authorities are urging people to get a COVID-19 test.
Health Minister Jelta Wong has also blamed the recent surge in cases to non-compliance to COVID-19 control measures.
"The surge is mostly because of complacency," Wong said.
