Despite the announcements from PNG and Fiji over the last 24 hours of further COVID-19 cases, the Pacific islands are still largely free of the virus, and SPC, the Pacific Community, is working hard with countries to keep the situation under control.
Dr Paula Vivili, the Director of SPC's Public Health Division, says the remoteness of the islands is a key factor in the prevention of spread, but he says it also makes the Pacific countries vulnerable in the event of a major outbreak that would stretch their health systems to the limit.
And Dr Vivili says the ability of any country in the region to deal with large numbers of coronavirus cases won't be enhanced by the US President Donald Trump's decision to cut funding to the World Health Organisation.
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