-144 contacts being traced from first and second cases
The third confirmed Coronavirus case has been announced in Monrovia by the Liberian government, with the latest case discovered not being linked to the first contact case of suspended EPA boss, Nathaniel Blama.
The first (index) case of Blama was imported from Switzerland. But now this third case of a 63-year-old woman is said to have been imported from Italy, which is now the global epicenter of this deadly virus.
A press statement from the Ministry of Information issued at the weekend (Friday, March 20, 2020) and signed by Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe said:
“The Government of Liberia informs the general public that a third person has tested positive for the Coronavirus disease in the country.
The new case is
63-year-old Linda Ross, who was immediately taken to the 14 Military Hospital
to be treated. Her contacts are being traced.
In the wake of this development, Health Minister Wilhelmina
Jallah will convene an emergency meeting of the Incident Management Team (IMT)
on Saturday, March 21, to review existing health protocols and possibly
announce new measures.
The government urges calm as it works tirelessly to
prevent further spread of the COVID-19 virus. The public will be kept regularly
up to date with developments as they unfold,” the government’s press statement
concluded.
According to March 18, 2020 Situation Report of the National Public Health Institute (NPHIL), one hundred and forty-four (144) contacts have been listed as of March 18, 2020, 28 high risk and 116 low risk To access full report.
Now with the discovery of the third case of COVID-19 in Liberia, the number of contact to be traced has gone up.