Coronavirus Hits Liberia –Gov’t Takes Measures To Contain It

By Bill W. Cooper

Liberia has banned travels to and from those countries with over 200 or more coronavirus cases from entering the country. This followed after the country recorded its first case of COVID-19 on Monday, March 16, 2020.The first patient is the head of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Nathaniel Blama, who and other officials of government returned to the country last Friday, March 13, from Switzerland.
He, along with several other officials of government who traveled on the same flight, Blama chose not to be quarantined, in keeping with the health protocols that were in place at the airport.
However, addressing the nation yesterday, President George Weah said besides ban imposed on those countries, also banned non-essential travel by all officials of government, as well as granted “paid leave” to non-essential employees of government.
This is until further notice as the Civil Service Agency (CSA) is expected to announce the roster of employees in such category any moment.
He advised that people should minimize their travel within the country to and from abroad, which is absolutely necessary, adding, “This refers specifically to cross-border traders and travelers coming to Liberia from infected countries, and applies particularly to all government officials.”
President Weah urged citizens and residents to avoid public gatherings and large crowds, and try to keep a minimum social distance of at least 6 feet from people with fever, cough, sneezing, and those with breathing difficulty.
“The spread of the virus represents the greatest threat to the health and well-being of the people of Liberia since the Ebola epidemic suffered by the country from 2014 to 2016,” the President alluded.
He then assured the population that the government is taking every precaution and action to protect the country’s borders and ports of entry.
The Liberian leader stated further that an intensive tracing exercise is underway to identify and test all persons with whom Blama came into contact.
“All other persons who traveled on that flight and by-passed the mandatory screening protocols, are being made to report to the health authorities immediately and without any further delay, for testing,” he stated.
He warned that any other persons who attempt to by-pass screening at any port of entry will be arrested and taken into compulsory quarantine.
The President then assured the Liberians that the situation is under professional management by the health authorities, who have adequately prepared themselves well in advance for this eventuality.
He asked the public to remain calm, and report any suspicious medical behavior to the authorities for our own safety. “It is very important that we all follow the guidelines set out by the health authorities, and adapt our behavior accordingly,” he added.
Meanwhile, government has taken immediate actions in response to this threat including strong focus on hygiene from every individual and organization that everyone should wash their hands often, several times a day, with soap and running water, and use hand sanitizers, wherever available and affordable.
Others are all offices, businesses, schools, churches, and places of public gatherings should provide hand-washing facilities at their entrances and there should be NO HANDSHAKING whatsoever and use a nod of your head for greeting each other.
Also, President Weah’s pending national county tour has been postponed due to this new development of the coronavirus situation and that all travels to and from all countries with over 200 or more coronavirus cases are banned.
As it stands worldwide, there are 162 countries infected with the virus of which there is 6, 686 deaths and 77, 867 are recovering while there are total of 174,886 fresh cases pending.
In a related development, barley minutes after President Weah’s stringent measure massage to the nation, the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) acting Director General, Dr. Mosoka Fallah has alarmed that one William Ballah alias JR believed to be the driver of Nat Blama is said to be the drummer of the First Baptist Church Choir in Congo Town.
According to Dr. Fallah, JR was reliably seen at the S. Trowen Nagbe Methodist Church on 13th Street performing at a song service, as it was said that JR was only returning to the Choir after a long absence, adding that after his performance, he was hugged and greeted by many worshipers who attended the service including the directors of both church Choir.
The NPHIL boss noted that there are too many primary and secondary contact points, stressing that all those folks that were and exposed to JR should do the honorable thing by firstly carrying on self-quarantine in order to avoid the spread, something he described as “responsible citizenship.”
He added that he also gathered that Nat Blama alone did not make the trip back home from Switzerland, alluding that the Head of the Climate Change Secretariat at the EPA, Jeremiah Sokan also arrived at the airport and was not got quarantined, as such, no confirmation as to whether he’s negative or not and that he and his driver and all contacts should be arraigned and quarantined.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization (WHO) Technical Coordinator, Dr. Monday Julius pledged the WHO commitment to the government in combating the virus, while at the same time lauded the government for the stringent measures put in place. He encouraged the citizenry to abide by the government’s preventive measures put in place.
In order to buttress the President’s message on the prevention, the Advisor to the President on Islamic Affairs, Usmane T. Jalloh yesterday cancelled their planned gowning program that was meant to honor President Weah for his leadership role played to the Muslim community having spent two years in office.
He then urged his Muslim brothers and sisters to inform their brethren about the outbreak so as to take all preventive measures seriously and avoid falling victims of this gruesome, remorseless and uncompromising virus.