By Alpha Abu
Sierra Leone has experienced its worst month for recorded positive cases of the coronavirus, with June alone, accounting for 1,428 infections mostly in the Western Area. Also the month of June 2021 has seen the second-highest fatalities since the outbreak surface in the country, with 21 people succumbing to the disease, surpassed only by May 2020 39 deaths.
A total of 102 people has now died from the pandemic in the country, accounting for a 1.8% case fatality per every 100 cases. It has also been confirmed that the deadly Delta Variant of the disease has entered Sierra Leone.
In reaction to the rather appalling statistics, President Julius Maada Bio has in a nationwide address on Thursday 1 July 2021, ordered the re-introduction of a number of restrictive measures to combat the spread of the pandemic. Beginning this Friday 2nd July 2021 and for a period of one month, Juma prayers by Muslims and Church services have all been banned. Restaurants and bars are now to provide only takeaway services and must close by 9 pm.
The President also ordered that attendances at funerals, weddings, and other social gatherings are limited to only 50 persons.
He has also announced the instituting of a night- to- dawn curfew from 11 pm to 5 am effective Monday 5 July 2021, for a period of one month. People traveling inter-district would now have to produce a covid-19 vaccination certificate, President Bio insisted.
He spoke about how the nation has “coped with financial and social constraints, restrictions on movement, and the general global uncertainties and anxieties caused by this pandemic”, and commended the citizenry for the compliance, patience and cooperation have shown toward the public advisories since the country recorded its first covid-19 case on 31 March 2020.
President Bio cited the commendation the country has received from international partners and institutions in addressing the first and second waves of the pandemic, but admitted the latest action was necessitated by the third wave of the disease and the delta variant of the virus that he said WHO had reported being present in Sierra Leone.
He again encouraged people to take the vaccines which he said are available in the country in order to curb the spread of the pandemic.
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