There are fears riots could erupt in Papua New Guinea due to an alarming spike in COVID-19 cases.
A senior doctor says Port Moresby’s main hospital is under strain and may be forced to shut its doors.
Local media reported six patients who tested positive for COVID-19 forcibly discharged themselves from the Mt Hagen General Hospital in the Western Highlands province.
There were 82 cases reported in the past 24 hours - bringing the country’s total number of COVID-19 cases to 2,351 - but authorities fear the number could be much higher.
Fewer than 60,000 of the country’s nine million residents have been tested.
