By Kemo Cham
The National COVID-19 Emergency Response Center (NACOVERC) says it is working on scaling down its work force, in a sign of the country getting closer to the end of the pandemic.
NACOVERC spokesman Solomon Jamiru broke the news in a social media post on Friday, indicating that they intended to cut down the number of staff to a minimum 40% effective 1 November, 2020.
He said the decision was reached at a workforce rationalisation conference held from 19-21 October at the Golden Tulip, Aberdeen, Freetown. It comes at the 30th week of the Coronavirus outbreak in Sierra Leone.
Jamiru said the conference was informed by an assessment of the epidemiological data especially for the last three (3) months, which indicated a general downward trend in COVID cases nationwide.
“With this general downward trend in cases, the conference concluded that it will not be fiscally prudent to retain the over 9,000 workforce nationwide,” he noted.
As at 23rd October, there were twenty-three (23) quarantine homes (all being self-quarantine), with a total of 175 persons in three (3) Districts - Western Area Urban, Western Area Rural and Port Loko.
Positive cases currently admitted in treatment and care centres nationwide were said to be below 5% of the total bed capacity of the country, which is 984.
The NACOVERC spokesman said majority of the districts had gone for several incubation periods without recording a case.
He assured that in the event of any surge of cases, which may require scaling up of the workforce, a personnel and logistical re-engagement mechanism has already been instituted.
“Risk allowances accounted for a large percentage of the funding portfolio. The cut will enable refocusing and repurposing funds towards emergency and health systems strengthening, which are two critical national imperatives,” Jamiru said.
He however warned that the development does not in any way signal the end of COVID-19, noting that the response will continue to keep the virus in check, and he urged the public to remain vigilant.
Sierra Leone recorded its first case of the virus on 30th March, prompting the government to institute stringent measures geared towards preventing the spread of the disease. Nevertheless, the country went on to record over two thousand cases.
As of Friday, it had recorded a cumulative confirmed positive cases of 2343 and 74 fatalities.
Friday’s announcement comes amidst a growing public call for the government to ease the existing nationwide 7 hour curfew, which many people say have made life difficult for them.
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