By Prince J. Musa in Kenema.
As part of measures to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country, Deputy Minister of Health and Sanitation, Dr. Anthony Augustine Sandi, has warned commercial bike riders to be aware of the health status of their passengers.
"Bike riders must stop transporting people whom they don't know their health status, especially sick people, as they are one of the agents that transmit illness quickly. Anybody caught doing such should be dealt with appropriately," he said.
Dr Sandy was addressing the riders during a visit to Kenema last weekend. He was among a team of stakeholders that visited major chiefdoms in the Eastern region to make sure that the borders with Liberia and Guinea were properly secured.
The delegation visited Joru and Faama in the Nomo Chiefdom and Gorahun in Tunkia chiefdom in Kenema District. These chiefdoms share border with Liberia.
Motorbike is the predominant transportation mode in these areas. Commercial motor bikes are much preferred by passengers to commute from one point to another through Sierra Leone’s porous borders without going through the regular security checks at the main entering and exit points.
Last week, Sierra Leone announced border closure with its Mano River Union counterparts - Liberia and Guinea.
And on Tuesday Sierra Leone announced its first case of the virus, which was imported to the country through flight.
A second case was also announced on Wednesday, which is separate from the first case.
Sandy pleaded with stakeholders to unite and fight against the spread of the virus.
"Coronavirus fight should not be attributed to politics, tribes and regions, but need collective participation not to get any case,” he said.
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