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Grand Bassa County: Quarantine Center Setup
The County Health Team (CHT) has set up 10 rooms at a facility that will be used as quarantine center for people suspected for COVID-19. This means the county does not have to keep people in quarantine within the concession area for ArcelolMittal for now.
The rooms are located in the NASSCORP building in Buchanan city, a facility granted to the county by the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation as part of its efforts to fight the pandemic.
The rooms were setup with mattresses, chairs, fans and have “good” bathrooms, said Gregory Walker, deputy head of the county’s Incident Manager System (IMS).
Walker added that the county needs over USD $77,000 to run the quarantine and isolation centers.
“We [are] having this place for quarantine but we still need money to set up the rest of the rooms,” Walker said.
Meanwhile, three persons have recovered from the coronavirus disease in the county. This means three more patients are still in isolation undergoing medical care.
Bong County: Confirmed Case Heightens Care
Residents in Tumata, Yelequelleh district, Bong County have vowed to adhere to health protocols aimed at preventing the spread of the COVID-19 in their community.
On Thursday, Bong County announced its first COVID-19 case – a 52-year-old man, who died before his test result came back positive for the virus. The County Health Team has also disclosed that eight persons, who came in contact with the man, have been put in quarantine.
However, resident ofTumata said since the outbreak, they have been following public health restrictions to prevent the virus.
“We are willing to keep washing their hands, practicing physical distancing and wearing face covering,” says Mike Torkolon, youth leader of the town. Torkolon said that communities are urgently in need of hand washing buckets and detergent to continue following the health protocols.
Maryland County: Local Organization Buttresses Health Team
A community-based organization, Peace Liberia, has launched a strategic anti-COVID-19 awareness program in the county.
Executive Director, Richlue Morlue, says the project intends to buttress government’s fight against COVID-19. He presented Jingles and promos to two community radio stations in Pleebo and Harper respectively.
He said awareness will be done across the county to rally community adherence to all the health measures and they will also distribute hand washing materials to 20 communities in Harper and 10 zones in Pleebo.
The executive Director meanwhile express his organization’s willingness to collaborate with the Maryland County Health Team in combating the pandemic.
Gbarpolu County: ‘Unique Creativity’
Riders for Health International’s coordinator in Gbarpolu County says teaming up with the county health team is one of the best ways to stopping the spread of the coronavirus disease.
Henry Siafah is leading three couriers who collect sample of specimens from the county and deliver same at the NPHIL reference lab for testing. “Since this outbreak, we have transported 41 specimens for testing,” Siafah told LocalVoicesLiberia upon his arrival from transporting a batch of specimen to the lab.
Meanwhile, during the Incident Management System (IMS) meeting on Thursday, the county health officer, Dr. Musa Zuanah praised Riders for Health describing the organization’s creativity as “unique to the COVID-19 response team.”
He said, the NGO’s work is “the farthest dependable way of getting or transporting specimens to the lab”.
Lofa County: 70 Persons to Leave Quarantine
Over 70 persons are expected to graduate from the Precautionary Observation Centers (POCs) in the county. This means they do not have the coronavirus and can now reunite with their families after going through quarantine and later testing negative for COVID-19.
Alpha Tamba, Surveillance Officer of the County Health Team, said the number is a combined total from the POCs in Foya and Voinjama. They were quarantined because they came in contact with the first two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county, Tamba said.
The first set of tests done on the 70 people proved negative but the second test results are expected Friday, June 5. Based on this second results, the county health team says it will either continue or halt the planned graduation.