On Tuesday, President Maada Bio of Sierra Leone announced the index case of a 37 year old male who arrived the country from France on an Air Brussels flight on the 16 March and was immediately put into quarantine.
The man reportedly finished the requisite 14 days isolation at a hotel on Sunday and was collected by his wife yesterday. Apparently the subject’s wife, who is a medical doctor, noticed the signs and symptoms of Covid-19 and immediately drove her husband to the Military Hospital where he tested positive for the virus.
“We have quickly isolated case number one. We have immediately and aggressively operationalised tracking and surveillance for all primary and secondary contacts. “Those persons will be placed into mandatory quarantine and tested immediately starting today.
The Minister of Health Alpha Wurie promised that already the wife of the index case and all those who were in the quarantine facility with him will be tested today.
Schools, Colleges and Universities have all been ordered close as from today until further notice. Also, gatherings of over 100 people have been banned. Hand washing and social distancing have also been encouraged.
President Bio emphasised that “this is not a lockdown” adding, “but the government will respond rapidly to changes in the situation by announcing additional enhanced measures.”
