By Theresa Kef Sesay
According to the according to National Covid-19 Emergency Response Center (NaCOVERC) the influx of people in the country from the diaspora during the holiday season to spend time with their families and loved ones and the festive season celebrations in the country has resulted to a rise of corona virus cases from December 2020 to January 2021.
This second wave of the disease has caused a wide spread fear as most people are attributing these new cases to the new strain of the virus that’s affecting the wider world. For that reason, the Government of Sierra Leone has reinstated stricter measures in order to mitigate the continuous spread of the virus especially in the capital city; Freetown.
These measures include; two weeks curfew starting from 10:00pm – 5:00am, restricted movement of people to and from the city, ban on night clubs and closure of bars and restaurants during the weekend. NaCOVERC will review the restrictions at the end of the 2 weeks.
Sierra Leone Red Cross Society (SLRCS) having been at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19, supporting the Government in the areas of psychosocial support, social mobilization, community engagements and sensitization, safe and dignified burials, and many more.
With support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), SLRCS HQ has distributed Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) and Information, Education and Communication Materials (IEC) on the 22nd – 26th January, 2021 to the 8 IFRC supported branches; Kambia, Port Loko, Bombali, Kailahun, Koinadugu, Tonkolili, Western Area Urban and West Area Rural through District Covid-19 Emergency Response Centers (DiCOVERC) for onward distribution to community people.
These materials included; veronica buckets, hand washing stations, liquid soaps, hand sanitizers, chlorine, gloves, aprons, flyers and posters, facemasks and thermometers. With these, branches will continue to enhance adherence to covid-19 preventive measures as they carry on their sensitization in those communities.
