Sierra Leone will go on a nationwide lockdown for three days from April 5 to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease in the country, the government announced on Wednesday.
The 72-hour lockdown was announced by the head of the National Coronavirus Response Team, Brigadier (Rtd) Kellie Hassan Conteh after Health Minister Dr Alpha Tejan Wurie revealed that the country had recorded a second case of the virus, which causes COVID-19 respiratory disease.
The officials did not, however, give details about the second case, except that it is not linked to the first and that it is the result of community transmission.
A total of 43 primary contacts have been identified in connection with the first case, and only eight have been located and tested. All of them came back negative, according to Brigadier Conteh.
He said the lockdown was delayed to Sunday in order to help Sierra Leoneans prepare for it.
Brigadier Conteh, who is also Defence Minister, was speaking for the first time to the press after he was named by President Julius Maada Bio as head of the Coronavirus response team.
He also announced a raft of measures to contain the spread of the disease, including a ban on weekly market as well as restrictions on burial processions and marriage ceremonies.
All entertainment centres, including bars and restaurants, are prohibited from operating after 7pm (1900 GMT).
KC/jn/APA