Coronavirus: Liberia to grant government employees paid leave

The President of Liberia, George Weah has announced that all non-essential employees of the government would be granted a paid leave until further notice due to the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The directive is meant to prevent non-essential employees from going to work to contain the spread of the virus.

In a speech President Weah said the “Civil Service Agency will announce the roster of employees in this category.”

Liberia has also recorded its first case of the Coronavirus with the President giving details about the case.

“The infected person is Mr. Nathaniel Blama, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, who arrived in Liberia on Brussels Airlines on Friday night, the 13^th of March.

Along with several other officials of Government traveling on the same flight, Mr. Blama chose not to be quarantined, in keeping with the health protocols that were in place at the airport.”

President Weah said “An intensive tracing exercise is underway to identify and test all persons with whom he came into contact.

Meanwhile, all other persons who traveled on that flight and by-passed the mandatory screening protocols, are being made to report to the health authorities immediately and without any further delay, for testing.

Any other persons who attempt to by-pass screening at any port of entry will be arrested and taken into compulsory quarantine.”

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He assured “the Liberian people that the situation is under professional management by the health authorities, who have adequately prepared themselves well in advance for this eventuality.

There is no need to panic.  I ask that all of you should remain calm, and report any suspicious medical behavior to the authorities for our own safety.”

Liberia has also imposed a travel ban on travelers from countries with over 200 coronavirus cases.

The government is also asking citizens to minimize their “travel within Liberia, and to and from abroad, to that which is absolutely necessary.

This refers specifically to cross-border traders and travelers coming to Liberia from infected countries, and applies particularly to all Government officials.”

Algeria 48
South Africa 51
Senegal 24
Cameroon 3
Nigeria 2
Burkina Faso 7
Togo 1
DRC 3
Cote d’Ivoire 5
Ghana 2
Gabon 1
Kenya 3
Ethiopia 4
Guinea 1
Rwanda 5
Namibia 2
E Guinea 1
Seychelles 2
CAR 1
Congo 1
Mauritania 1
Eswatini 1
Liberia 1
Egypt 110
Morocco 28
Tunisia 18
Sudan 1 pic.twitter.com/U6vpjREr0q

— WHO African Region (@WHOAFRO) March 16, 2020

Source: Africafeeds.com