MONROVIA, LIBERIA-Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has termed as premature, the recent level-4 travel health notice issued on Liberia and other countries by the US Center for Disease Control.
Minister Jallah said:” The announcement was premature because jumping from level-one to level-four might have been ill advised.”
According to Dr. Jallah, with the recent surge, Liberia should have been placed at least on level two or three, instead of level four.
The Minister said:” The Incident Management Team is currently speaking with the US-CDC, and will evaluate data of the current outbreak weekly to ensure improvement.”
In a related development, The Liberia National Police (LNP) said it will begin deployment at Funeral Homes and Churches in and around Monrovia, this weekend.
Police Inspector General, Colonel Patrick Sudue, said:” The deployment is aimed at enforcing the COVID-19 Health Guidelines.”
Col. Sudue said as part of its responsibilities, the LNP is fully prepared to enforce the mandate from health authorities to contain the spread of the virus.
The Police Inspector General told ELBC on Thursday, July 1, 2021, that any funeral home and church caught in violation of the health protocols will be closed and fined.
Col. Sudue disclosed that the police are holding discussions with the Liberia Council of Churches and other organizations, but observed that some funeral homes and worship centers are not adhering to the health protocols.
Meanwhile, Liberian Health Authorities have recorded one hundred ninety three new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to one thousand six hundred nineteen.
Montserrado County has one hundred twenty-seven, while the numbers are worryingly going up in other counties, with the exception of River Gee and Grand Kru Counties.
Margibi has fourteen new cases, followed by Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Lofa with twelve each while Bong County reported eight.
Health Minister Dr. Wilhelmina Jallah has disclosed the fifty five people have died from Covid-19 in the month of June alone, accounting for 48 percent of the total deaths recorded since March this year.
Minister Jallah also said the Incident Management Team has now recorded two thousand three hundred forty six recoveries, with thirty-one reported as of June 30, 2021.
At the same time, the former Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia is recommending an effective tracing of contacts from confirmed cases to stop further spread of Covid-19 in the Country.
Dr. Mosoka Fallah also recommended more awareness about voluntary testing and building the capacity of health facilities, to report those with COVID–19 symptoms.
Speaking in an ELBC interview on Thursday, July 1, 2021, Dr. Fallah urged Health Authorities to employ strategies and create multiple platforms in order to improve the testing time.
The former NPHIL boss said:” There should also be Covid-19 testing centers at various major points of entry, especially in the rural areas to avoid a widespread outbreak of the virus.”
Dr. Mosoka Fallah lauded Health Authorities for enforcing the health protocols, including the wearing of face and nose masks, washing of hands and social distancing.
Meanwhile, Dr. Fallah has made an appeal to partners and the World Health Organization to increase the number of vaccines donated to Liberia.
