HEALTH-EBOLA/SIERRA LEONE Sierra Leone imposes Ebola curfew for northern districts

Record ID: 151004

  • Title: HEALTH-EBOLA/SIERRA LEONE Sierra Leone imposes Ebola curfew for northern districts
  • Date: 12th June 2015
  • Summary: FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (JUNE 7, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF HEALTH WORKERS AT TREATMENT CENTRE WEARING PROTECTIVE SUITS FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (JUNE 12, 2015) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE)(English) ERNEST BAI KOROMA, PRESIDENT OF SIERRA LEONE, SAYING: I HAVE ASKED THE STRINGER TO TAKE OUT THE BIT IN READ. IF HE HASN'T, HERE'S THE TRANSCRIPTION "The curfew restriction and the soldie
  • Embargoed: 27th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Sierra Leone
  • Country: Sierra Leone
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA7ZMKMZ7TGF39J72EVJ8CTUWSW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: QUALITY AS INCOMING
    Sierra Leone is introducing curfew for two northern districts after a spike in new Ebola cases to the highest level in months, President Ernest Bai Koroma said on Friday (June 12).
    The 18-month-long Ebola epidemic has killed more than 11,100 people in West Africa, although weekly numbers of new cases have fallen sharply from last year's peaks. One of the three worst-affected countries, Liberia, was declared Ebola-free in May.
    Sierra Leone and Guinea, however, are still regularly reporting several new cases daily, prompting both to extend emergency measures.
    "The curfew restriction and the soldier activities will last for 21-day period. Offenders detained during this 21-day period are to be taken to court of law thereafter," Koroma said in a televised address.
    "The following business will be eased provided they adhere to the Ebola prevention protocols such as temperature screening of employees and costumers, and hand washing and prevention of overcrowding during business hours. Supermarkets are allowed to operate their businesses from 0600 am to 0900 pm Mondays to Saturdays. Restaurants are allowed to operate from hours 0600 am to 1000 pm Mondays to Sundays," Koroma added.
    The two districts lie on the route between the capital Freetown and the Guinea border and have been the focus of recent cases.
    Health workers say access is difficult in the maze of islands and creeks in the region, where dirt paths are often flooded in the current wet season.
    William Sao Lamin from the Health Alert NGO says the measures aren't going far enough.
    "Port Loko and Kambia districts must be shut down for now. Must be totally closed down for now if we are to make some gains," Lamin said.
    Some residents are not complying with anti-Ebola measures and more than a dozen Ebola contacts have escaped quarantine, according to a report by the National Ebola Response Centre (NERC) in May.
    "There are still people who are washing dead bodies, traditional practices are still going on, the TBAs are still doing home delivery, that is the Traditional Birth Attendants, they are still doing home deliveries and these are some of the things that are actually responsible for these cases that are still coming up and something has to be done," Lamin said.
    There have also been breaches of anti-Ebola regulations in the capital. A member of parliament, Alie Badara Munu, was arrested for participating in a traditional burial in May.
    Washing rituals for the dead can spread the virus, contained within body fluids such as blood and sweat.
    Sierra Leone reported seven confirmed cases on June 9, the highest count since March 24, according to the NERC.
    But in many other districts of the small agricultural country of 6 million people, there are no more Ebola patients.
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