George Weah, Liberia’s President
MONROVIA, April 9 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Liberia’s President, George Weah, has declared that a state of emergency should begin at 11:59pm local time on Friday because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Weah has called for an emergency session of parliament so that MPs can endorse the order that will impose restrictions on movement across the country.
The emergency law will last for three weeks and is renewable “until the threat to Liberia from the Covid-19 virus no longer exists”.
“Throughout this period, residents may leave home only for essential journeys like reasons of health and food which should be restricted to your local communities and be limited to a single person per household for a maximum of one hour,” the president said.
Weah said he was taking the measure because Covid-19 had “entered a new phase” and it needed to be contained.
Liberia has recorded 14 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with four people dead.
Separately, in ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the country to help curb the spread of the new coronavirus, his office said on Twitter.
“Considering the gravity of the #COVID19, the government of Ethiopia has enacted a State of Emergency,” Abiy’s office said.
Africa’s second-most populous nation at more than 110 million, Ethiopia has recorded 52 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and two deaths.
Authorities have already taken a series of measures to stem the spread including closing schools, banning public gatherings and requiring most employees to work from home.
The prime minister did not mention what additional steps would be taken under the state of emergency. — NNN-AGENCIES
