Monrovia – The Inspector General (IG) of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has warned that the police is working closely with health authorities to arrest anyone who will violate health protocols set up to contain the coronavirus.
“Don’t say the police people will be afraid to come after me. We’ve got all of the equipment, the PPEs to protect ourselves and we will come after you. We did it during the Ebola days and we will do it again.”
– Inspector General of Police, Patrick Sudue
Inspector General Sudue made the stern warning during an awareness campaign launched by the LNP on Wednesday following two confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Liberia by health authorities.
IG Sudue, standing in his assigned SUV with a loudspeaker, and joined by several of his men drove through major streets in Monrovia cautioning residents and commuters to abide by the safety measures put in place by Government.
President George Weah, in announcing that Liberia has been hit by the coronavirus on Monday, stated that the spread of the virus represents the greatest threat to the health and wellbeing of the people of Liberia since the Ebola epidemic that claimed over 5,000 lives between 2014 and 2026.
The President went on to announce that Dr. Nathaniel Blama, the first person to test positive of the Covid-19 in Liberia violated health protocols at the Roberts International Airport upon his return from Europe and warned that any persons who attempts to by-pass screening at any port of entry will be arrested and taken into compulsory quarantine.
IG Sudue, launching the anti-coronavirus awareness, echoed the President’s warning and said the Police were well equipped to go after anyone who violates these safety measures.
“Don’t say the police people will be afraid to come after me. We’ve got all of the equipment, the PPEs to protect ourselves and we will come after you. We did it during the Ebola days and we will do it again,” he warns.
“We are asking you all to cooperate with the Liberian National police, the health practitioners and NPHIL [National Institute of Public Health] so we all can remain safe.”
Speaking further, he cautioned that the best preventive measures are to avoid large gatherings and regularly wash hands.
“You should avoid large gatherings because you don’t know the health condition of the person next to you. It is an airborne disease. One of the easiest ways to be prevented is to wash your hands. If it causes you not to go to Church, don’t go to church, and don’t go to the mosque. You can pray in your house and God will answer you.”
The Coronavirus has become affecting daily lives in Liberia just like in many countries that are battling contagion.
Currently, all schools – primary and tertiary have shut down, and some Churches including the Providence Baptist Church on Broad and Ashmun Streets and the United Methodist Church in Sinkor have barred worship services.