MONROVIA – Liberia on April 9 recorded an additional six confirmed cases of Coronavirus, bringing the total to 37, FrontPageAfrica has learned.
According to an NPHIL and WHO situation report, one of the confirmed cases was imported while 37 were locally transmitted. Six of the indigenous cases have no epidemiological linkage to the index case. Eight hundred thirty (830) contacts including 127 health workers have been documented.
FrontPageAfrica further gathered that of the confirmed cases, six are health care workers that were treating patients infected with COVID-19. There are indications that infections prevention and control (IPC) is poor. Some health experts who asked for anonymity expressed fear that more healthcare workers would be infected as the 14 Military Hospital was not designed to treat respiratory illnesses like Coronavirus disease.
National Public Health Institute is working with Montserrado, Nimba, and Grand Kru Health Teams to identify additional contacts.
The country will lockdown with a state of emergency beginning 11:59pm on Friday as part of rigorous efforts to slow or stop the transmission.
“My fellow Liberians, although our health team is working assiduously to complete the testing of scores of contacts, let us recognize that the COVID-19 virus has now entered a new phase in our country as we move from protection to containment. The dynamics of our management of the disease have been significantly changed there will be required additional strong measures to delay the spreading of this highly infectious virus and keep our public safety,” President Weah said on Wednesday when he announced the state of emergency.
The President lamented that the global pandemic is killing thousands of people around the world and there is no vaccine or cure.
“The global spread of the virus represents the greatest threat to the people and well-being of the People of Liberia since the Ebola epidemic suffered our country from 2014 to 2016,” he said.
He also noted that confirmed cases are on the rise.
President Weah: “Therefore, by the authority granted to me under Articles 85, 86, 87 and 88 of the Liberian Constitution and after due consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate as required by law, I, George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, hereby, declare a State of Emergency to exist in and throughout the Republic of Liberia for a period of three weeks renewable until the threat to Liberia from the COVID-19 Virus no longer exists.”
Under the State of Emergency all 15 counties are quarantined from 11;59pm, Friday, April 10 until further notice.
Movement between counties is strictly prohibited; no person shall be permitted to enter or leave the borders of any county to another county except for Montserradi County and Margibi County which are quarantined as a single unit.
Also, all residents within the borders of Montserrado County, Margibi County, Nimba County, and Grand Kru are to stay at home throughout the time of the quarantine.
“Throughout this period, residents may leave home only for essential journeys like reasons of health and food which should be restricted to your local communities only and be limited to a single person per household for a maximum of one hour,” he warned.