Pacific Beat

Health workers from Australia and other parts of the world are being asked to go to Papua New Guinea as the country experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases, with one more confirmed in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 31.

On the program: There are fears some Pacific island workers in Australia will struggle to pay for food and accommodation because they're now unable to get to work across the Victorian/NSW border, which has been closed to all temporary visa holders as part of new COVID-19 restrictions, and health workers from Australia and other parts of the world are being asked to go to PNG as the country experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases.

There are fears some Pacific island workers in the Australian state of Victoria will struggle to pay for food and accommodation because they're now unable to get to work across the border in the neighbouring state, New South Wales.

While most of the world's attention has been focused on the health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, another sector that's been affected is environmental conservation. Several programs in the Pacific say they've lost financing which has impacted their operations.

Businesses, charities and community members have swung into action to support dozens of seasonal workers from Vanuatu and Timor Leste, who were displaced by a fire that destroyed a backpacker hostel in the Queensland town of Bundaberg this week.

On the program: The Governor of PNG's capital Port Moresby Powes Parkop tells Pacific Beat he's "worried" about the unfolding COVID-19 situation, which he says is one they "dreaded" in recent months because of PNG's limited capacity to handle a major health crisis and Fiji Rugby Union confirms it is standing down and will "rotate out" its chairman, Francis Kean, after a controversial five year term that included recent allegations of homophobia

PNG's top health official says its "critical" that COVID-19 testing rates in the capital Port Moresby are increased after a recent spike in cases, while the country's COVID-19 Emergency Controller confirming that requests are being made for international emergency medical teams to be deployed. The Governor of Port Moresby Powes Parkop says he's "worried" about the unfolding situation which he says is one they "dreaded" in recent months.

On the program: The Governor of PNG's capital Port Moresby Powes Parkop tells Pacific Beat he's "worried" about the unfolding COVID-19 situation, which he says is one they "dreaded" in recent months because of PNG's limited capacity to handle a major health crisis and Fiji Rugby Union confirms it is standing down and will "rotate out" its chairman, Francis Kean, after a controversial five year term that included recent allegations of homophobia.

On the program: Papua New Guinea has recorded its biggest daily spike in COVID-19 cases, with 8 new cases confirmed, and new lockdown measures are expected to be announced later today, and dozens of seasonal workers from Vanuatu and Timor Leste have lost their belongings and even ID after a fire destroyed a popular pub and backpackers hostel they were staying in, in the Queensland city of Bundaberg, but they say they're lucky to be alive.

PNG has recorded its biggest daily spike in COVID-19 cases, with 8 new cases confirmed, and new lockdown measures are expected to be announced later today. Meanwhile there are concerns amongst hospital staff that they are running short of personal protective equipment, but the hospital's CEO says there are sufficient supplies.