By Ayodele Deen Cole
The interim Head of the National COVID-19 Response Committee, Retired Brigadier Kellie Hassan Conteh, has said that the government will not be the extending the fourteen days lockdown period, including the night curfew, which was announced by President Julius Maada Bio almost two weeks ago. He made the disclosure at the Ministry of Information and Communication during the usual COVID-19 press briefing.
According to Retired Brigadier Kellie Hassan Conteh, despite the increasing number of cases across the country, the government will not issue out any new lockdown except in instances where community cases start popping up. He noted that, based on their monitoring report, they found out that there have not been enough compliance from members of the public when it comes to the preventive measures being put in place by the government, especially in market places and transport parks.
The NCRC interim Chief also makes reference to a case in the provinces where a motorbike was used to transport a confirmed COVID-19 patient, adding that the NCRC in that part of the country was left with no option but to quarantine both the patient and the bike rider.
He further revealed that the government has now made it mandatory for all people entering public buildings to wear a face mask or else they will not be allowed to enter into such premises.
After the announcement was made, this press spoke with several people to know what they think about the government plan or whether it will be nice for the government to extend the fourteen days lockdown.
While responding to this press, a local trader at Free Street, Mohamed Bah, praised the NCRC for the way and manner in which the NCRC has been handling the COVID-19 response.
The decision not to extend the 14 days lockdown, he said, comes at a time especially when Muslims will soon commence the Ramadan fasting month. He called on the security apparatus to make sure that they provide adequate security for Muslims during this year’s Ramadan.