The National COVID-19 Emergency and Response Centre (NaCOVERC) team operating in Hastings led by Sgt Andrew Davowah continues its monitoring exercise over the weekend and throughout the week to ensure that businesses and ordinary residents abide by the enhanced COVID-19 regulations.
NaCOVERC continues to make considerable progress in its work to enhance social distancing in market places and business stalls in a bid to respond to the ongoing fight to combat the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.
The NaCOVERC team was visible around Hastings and its environs effecting social distancing measures. The monitoring exercise was led by Sgt Davowah of the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces backed by local authorities.
The teams also engaged key partners including market Chairladies, Traders’ Union, Drivers’ Union, personnel of Sierra Leone Road Safety Authority (SLRSA) and local residents in a bid to sensitize the wider populace on the enhanced regulations on the note that COVID is still with us in Sierra Leone.
The monitoring exercise went on simultaneously with public education on COVID -19 as key messages were put out on major streets and communities within Hastings, Allen Town, and Calaba Town lorry park and market.
On Monday alone NaCOVERC was able to reach out to over ten business places, talk to shop owners and market women about COVID-19 regulations and how they could help in the fight by also safeguarding themselves.
Sgt Davowah highlighted some measures aimed at reducing human interaction identified throughout the exercise and called for the use of face masks and the washing of hands at all times.
He said it is mandatory to wash hands at market entry and exit points, and for buyers and traders to put on their face masks before entering the market.
“There is also need for one-way flow of traffic in the market with dedicated entry and exit points. Similar commodities being sold in the same area to enhance the one directional flow of people,” he continued.
He said engagement with Drivers’ Union and Marshalls of Traders’ Union, Market monitors and NaCOVERC team will ensure compliance with the enhanced rules and regulations which had been put in place.
He expressed hope that the National COVID-19 Emergency Response Centre will continue to work with other partners including market chairladies, to institute social distancing measures in markets throughout the Hastings environs in the fight to stop the coronavirus that is ravaging the world including Sierra Leone.
Sierra Leone recorded its first case of the coronavirus on 31st March 2020, and has gone to record over 2,500 cases and 72 deaths so far. Over 150 have survived the virus and over 300 people are currently in quarantine and undergoing observation.
23/10/2020. ISSUE NO: 7937