As the number of Coronavirus cases jumped from 101 to 105 by Wednesday, April 23, 2020, it is reported on Thursday that River Gee County in southeastern Liberia has seen its first confirmed case of the killer virus.
River Gee is over 517 kilometers from the Liberian capital, Monrovia.
The case is that of a Chinese National, who works with CHICO Construction company from China, and he has been tested positive of COVID-19 after refusing to attend hospital.
The Chinese National is a mechanic working with CHICO, which is currently constructing a road from River Gee to Maryland counties.
Making the disclosure on today, Friday April 24,2020, the Superintendent of RiverGee County, Philip Q. Nyenuh said earlier that when the Chinese National took sick on the job, it was reported by some workers of the company. But the CHICO management and the Chinese National denied having a sick person/patient.
Meanwhile, the River Gee County Health Officer, Dr. Trokon Washington has also confirmed that the Chinese national has been confirmed positive for COVID-19 and that contact tracing is underway in the area.
Superintendent Nyenuh disclosed that the Chinese National was taken to the Pleebo Health Center in neighbouring Maryland County for treatment and returned to their construction site in Webbo District, where again the management was contacted concerning the illness of the Chinese National. When they were advised that he be taken to hospital, the management again claimed that its employee has High Blood Pressure, not CoVID-19.
Superintendent Nyenuh told www.newspublictrust.com that upon his return to their construction site, authority of River Gee County insisted that they wanted to see him and the medical team was dispatched to Webbo, where their construction sites is situated. The Chinese national’s specimen was then taken about six days ago and sent to brought to Monrovia.
The RiverGee County Superintendent further explained that his specimen result arrived in the county this morning (Friday, April 24, 2020), which shows positive, declaring that the County is being locked down.
Mr. Nyenuh also told this news outlet that currently, CICO management is in communication with the RiverGee County authorities and all of those who working with the Construction company have now been placed under quarantine.
The County’s Health Officer, Trokon Washington says the Medical team is expected at construction site to take specimen of all the workers that will be sent to Monrovia. Report by Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com