-Out of 126 Contacts Dr. Blama Interacted with; Health Authorities Request Liberians to Call 4455
By Mark N. Mengonfia
Since Liberia’s health authorities pronounced the outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), two Liberians have been tested positive and are now tracing 126 contacts Dr. Blama interacted with.
Currently, Liberia has two confirmed cases of the COVID 19 and there more are expected to emerge based on the level of contacts made by the EPA boss.
Dr. Kateh said they as health authorities are making all efforts to get all the high risk and low risk contacts traced and tested before the situation goes off hands.
The Chief Medical officer of Liberia said active contact tracing is what they are concern with now adding that those they were able to reach since the epidemic of the virus, samples have been gathered from them and are now awaiting the results.
For now, they are not doing voluntary testing, “but if you are feeling sick because you have your body, than you can get to us” Dr. Kateh said.
He encouraged Liberians to call 4455 and if they see a person who is showing all of the signs and symptoms of the virus and or leave their information or visit any health center and leave their information to help them (health authorities) fight the unseen enemy.
When he was quizzed why did the Liberian health authorities named the Dr. Blama when he was tested positive, Dr. Kateh said they never wanted to, but when they saw that Dr. Nathaniel Blama has already posted “this give us the opportunity to call his name.”
According to him, in keeping with best practices they would have said Index case or withholding the names.
He furthered “This is now time for people to stop gathering, we have to be careful and protect ourselves.”
Dr. Kateh discouraged Liberians of stigmatizing people at this time and focus on how they can join forces and defeat the virus adding “the incubation period for the virus is 1 to 14 days.”
According to him, the 14 Military Hospital has been secured for treatment of people who will be tested positive.
Alphonso Toweh
Has been in the profession for over twenty years. He has worked for many international media outlets including: West Africa Magazine, Africa Week Magazine, African Observer and did occasional reporting for CNN, BBC World Service, Sunday Times, NPR, Radio Deutchewells, Radio Netherlands. He is the current correspondent for Reuters
He holds first MA with honors in International Relations and a candidate for second master in International Peace studies and Conflict Resolution from the University of Liberia.
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