By Mabinty M.Kamara
After hues and cries from the Sierra Leonean populace over inconveniences posed by the nationwide curfew, the National Coronavirus Response Center (NACOVERC) has in a press statement declared temporary lifting of the restriction.
After the first case of pandemic in the country in March this year, President Julius Maada Bio declared a state of public health emergency which gave him the power to impose a raft of measures geared towards stemming the spread of the virus in the country. The measures included the curfew and restrictions on inter district movement.
The curfew has been one of the most contentious issues among other restrictions, especially in the capital, Freetown, the hub of many businesses, offices and schools. Citizens had repeatedly called for the laxation of the curfew due to many factors, especially transportation constraints.
The calls grew louder recently with citizens calling taking to both social media and mainstream media to urge the government for a lift of the curfew.
However, according to NaCOVERC’s statement, the response to the pandemic has always focused on creating a balance between ‘saving lives’ and ‘sustaining livelihoods’, which it said informed the relaxation of a range of restrictions.
“NaCOVERC hereby announces that effective immediately, the nationwide curfew from 11pm to 5am is lifted for a period of four (4) weeks. ALL other COVID-19 related regulations shall remain in full force, and violations thereof will be appropriately dealt with. Public behaviour during this dispensation may inform any eventual review of this decision,” the statement reads.
It adds: “The ban on sports and other forms of entertainment, night clubs and cinema centers, secret societies, large public gatherings including street carnivals, and such other restrictions prior will continue to be in place, and the general public is warned accordingly.”
Despite jubilation over the lifting of the curfew, people remain concerned over the limited period given for it as the country approaches the festive season.
In response to this, the NACOVERC Spokesperson, Solomon Jamiru, told Politico that the decision to lift the curfew was influenced by the decline in the number of cases, the limited number of people in quarantine homes, limited number of people in hospitals and the socio economic impact it has had on the people.
“Its limited period is because we know that December is a festive season. We don’t know how the virus will behave between now and that time. That is why we said, let’s observe the attitude and behavior and to assess what likely impact this lifting of the curfew may have on the public health generally, and then we can decide what to do, if to have the curfew permanently lifted,” he explained.
“For us, December, the festive season is a very crucial period,” he added.
As of Tuesday, 27th October, the total cumulative confirmed cases of the viral disease in the country are 2,350.
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