Sierra Leone President, Bai Koroma, has ordered a three-day
national lockdown in a renewed attempt to stop the spread of
the Ebola virus disease.
Koroma on Saturday unveiled a campaign called ‘Zero Ebola’,
in which almost all Sierra Leoneans are supposed to stay
indoors from Friday, March 27 to Sunday, March 29, and from
6am to 6pm on three consecutive Saturday — April 4, 11 and
18.
In a statement, the President said, “The campaign will provide
an opportunity for communities to be directly involved in the
drive to zero cases, to reflect and to pray for the eradication
of this disease from our country.”
Sierra Leona tried a three-day lockdown last September in
what was primarily an informational campaign, with
volunteers going door-to-door to talk with residents about the
virus.
Koroma noted that his country had made “tremendous
progress” in the fight against the deadly disease as the
Ministry of Health reported zero new infections on Friday.
He warned that the rate of transmissions might increase
during the upcoming rainy season.
“The economic development of our country and the lives of
our people continue to be threatened by the ongoing presence
of Ebola in Sierra Leone. The future of our country and the
aspirations of our children are at stake,” he added.