Monrovia – Health and other governmental authorities have reported that Liberia has now recorded its first death as a result of the global 2019 Novel Coronavirus pandemic.
The 72-year-old John Teah died at the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA) Hospital in Paynesville City, Monrovia.
The two Ministers didn’t provide any other details concerning the oldman. However, a source close to the family told this newspaper that what the health authorities had said against the late Teah that he died from Coronavirus are all false.
“Mr. Teah was a builder; he was taken to the hospital on Wednesday and on Thursday he developed hiccup, which he didn’t come to from until he passed,” said this lady, who asked that her name be secret.
According to her, the deceased has a medical history of being a high blood pressure patient. “His pressure went up on Wednesday and we rushed him to the hospital on Wednesday, April 2. He was never a suspect of the virus.”
She even disclosed that when news broke that their father had died from the virus, the oldman’s relatives and sons, who lived just outside the hospital fence, stormed the hospital yard telling the people that their father didn’t die from the virus. “His son even demanded that they give his father’s body so that he can go and bury him,” she added.
According to her, the hospital authority had to call in the police, who came and took the boy and others to jail.
Police Spokesman Moses Carter confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that the deceased son and others were in police custody. “We have him and others in our care. We have called on the health authorities at the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) and the Ministry of Health to come and take their samples,” Police Spokesman Carter said.
The older gentleman was amongst the latest three new confirmed cases. The other two are health workers – Doris Pratt and David Zenneh, 42, yrs old Liberian allab tech , who are a part of the first responders.
“They were lab technicians,” Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah, along with Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe announced Saturday, April 4 on state radio
“So, this means Liberia now has 10 confirmed cases, including one death,” Dr. Jallah added.
Of the 10, the first three including the index case – Dr. Nathaniel Blama – have now tested negative twice and are set to be released to go home soon following observation.
Dr. Blama, Johnny Philips and Linda Russ, who are the first three who have now tested negative twice, are all in excellent health now and will be discharged soon.
According to the Health Minister, there are “enough testing kits” for the number of people who are to be tested. She further stated that daily at least 100 persons walk in to be tested in order to know their statuses.
Following the first three cases were Mssrs William Ballah and Reuben Smith, who are extended contacts of Mr. Blama. Assistant Public Works Minister James Reynolds is one of the second set of three, who tested positive.
Mr. Rajiv Dua, an Indian and first foreign national to be tested positive with Covid-19, brought the number to seven.
Futher giving the update on Saturday, Information Minister Nagbe said more international groups have sent emails to the Liberian government stating their desires to help in the country’s Covid-19 fight.
Meanwhile, Liberian health officials are asking everyone who came in contact with anyone of those who have tested positive to come forward or call 4455.
“COVID-19 is no death sentence and nobody should be stigmatized. The way to defeat COVID-19 is by ending to human to human transmission.”