In a late night nationwide address President Ernest Bai Koroma announced the isolation of three districts - Port Loko, Bombali and Moyamba - in a bid to stem the spread of Ebola. This, three days after a three-day nationwide lockdown.
The measure which comes into immediate effect is indefinite.
The president said "Corridors for travel to and from non-quarantined districts are hereby established, but vehicles and travellers must not alight within the quarantined districts, and must only travel along the corridors between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm".
He also announced Ebola hotspots in Freetown, Pujehun, Pujehun, Tonkolili and Kambia Districts while contact tracing and surveillance activities are to be intensified.
"The isolation of districts and chiefdoms will definitely pose great difficulties for our people in those districts. But the life of everyone and the survival of our country take precedence over these difficulties" the president said, assuring that government and partners would provide support to quarantined citizens "to ease these difficulties".
He said the three day lockdown "achieved its objectives" with "nearly all households" getting messages on Ebola.
"The Campaign also convinced many people to get out the sick amongst them, and to report on suspected deaths in their households and communities" Koroma said.
He however said that the campaign also highlighted "areas of greater challenges" which he said they were to strengthening. They include, he went on to say, improving response times, building more treatment and holding centers, and strengthening the neighborhood watch mechanisms.
(C) Politico 23/09/14
