The head of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Mosoka Fallah, has confirmed that out of the 21 contacts traced, one is tested positive, 16 are tested negative while four are being monitored for retesting in the coming days.
Giving a late evening update on the status of the virus in the country, Dr. Fallah said all contacts are responsive and lauded them for the collective efforts so far noting that there are currently 144 contact tracers deployed to date by the health authority in the country.
He said the greatest risk now is those entering the country through any of the entry points, be it the land borders or airports and urge Liberians desirous of leaving the country to wait until the virus is placed under health surveillance and thoroughly contained.
The Chief Medical Officer of Liberia, Francis Ketter, has admitted that there is absolutely no testing carried out at the airport instead, arrivals are only screened but assured that the government is prepared to carry out medical supplies in the counties as soon as possible.
The head of the World Health Organization in Liberia, Dr. Peters said Liberians must be extra conscious because the virus breeds on droplets as a result of coughing or sneezing and tends to concentrate around the nose, mouth and eyes and stays for over three hours thereby reminding Liberians about the key principle of hygiene.
Dr. Peters said he is optimistic that the disease that can be defeated and quickly explaining that the window period is 14 days for everyone who is exposed to the virus therefore called on Liberians to limit human to human transactions; encourage early treatment thereby frowning on misinformation which according to him is critical in the fight.
The WHO boss said the biggest fear is that the public is fed misinformation and that there are elements of stigma and rumor therefore he urged the government, individual and private sector to work collectively to raid the country of the virus because this virus comes through one person and spread as wild fire.
He assured that with a collective effort, this virus a history in the coming months.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Samuel Tweah said the World Bank has approved US$ 15m to help combat the virus in the country and out of said money, US$ 1.5m has already been approved to jumpstart the process while US$ 7.5 will be made available in the coming days.
Min. Tweah said the government has released US$ 500, 000 as an initial support to the health sector of the country while the IMF also promised some funding in that direction to assure that the government and other international partners of full transparency of the utilization of all the funds directed for the purpose of fighting the virus in Liberia.
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