Australia is dispatching a medical crisis response team to Papua New Guinea's capital to assist in efforts to contain the Covid-19 outbreak.
PNG has confirmed dozens of new cases in Port Moresby over the past two weeks with the total currently at 66.
Health officials have also this week reported the first two Covid-related deaths in Papua New Guinea.
So far only around ten thousand people have been tested for Covid-19 in the country but officials have ramped up the testing process significantly in the past few days.
As the capital Port Moresby went into lockdown this week, PNG reached out to the World Health Organisation and Australia for help.
Canberra has responded positively and is sending a team to assess and improve laboratory services, case management, infection control and triage and emergency management.
The WHO has also stepped up its response deploying more emergency medical staff to PNG, to strengthen testing capacity and medical supply delivery.
Covid-19 health screening at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby. Photo: PNG Department of Health
