Liberia: Places of worship to reopen from May 15 /update 8

Event

As of Tuesday, May 12, Liberian President George Weah has announced that places of worship are permitted to reopen from Friday, May 15. Churches, mosques, and other places of worship have been closed since Wednesday, April 8, to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Mosques will reopen for prayers on Friday, while churches will resume their activities on Sunday, May 17. The reopening is conditioned such that services are limited to 25 percent of their usual congregations so that social-distancing protocols can be maintained.

On Friday, May 8, President George Weah announced that stay-at-home measures currently in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 would be extended by a further two weeks until Friday, May 22. The measures have been in place since Saturday, April 11, and include the compulsory wearing of face masks in public. Among other restrictions remaining in effect are a daily curfew from 15:00 to 06:00 (local time), a ban on movement between counties, and the closure of all nonessential businesses. On Friday, April 17, authorities announced the extension of the state of emergency, originally slated for 21 days, for an additional 39 days until Tuesday, May 26.

Foreign travelers are prohibited from entering Liberia and the country's land borders with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Cote d'Ivoire remain closed, although transportation of essential goods is exempt. Schools and universities remain shut. Authorities have urged people to minimize travel within Liberia, avoid large gatherings, and observe good personal hygiene.

As of May 12, health authorities have confirmed 211 cases of COVID-19 in Liberia, as well as 20 related deaths. Further international spread of the virus is to be expected in the near term.

Context

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.

Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On March 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the global outbreak a pandemic.

Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and trouble breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.

Advice

Measures adopted by local authorities evolve quickly and are usually effective immediately. Depending on the evolution of the outbreak in other countries, authorities are likely to modify, at very short notice, the list of countries whose travelers are subject to border control measures or entry restrictions upon their arrival to the territory in question. It is advised to postpone nonessential travel due to the risk that travelers may be refused entry or be subject to quarantine upon their arrival or during their stay.

To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:

• Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water.
• When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands.
• If experiencing a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness, including pneumonia, call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.