National Covid-19 Emergency Response Centre (NaCOVERC) will soon embark on an active case search for over two months, the Spokesperson for NaCOVERC said on Saturday.
Slomon Jamiru Esq. said, “This enhanced surveillance surge will firstly target the Western Area, and then cascade nationwide. During this exercise, we will ramp up testing from current average of 180 to about 400 tests daily.”
Western Area Urban and Western Area Rural account for 52.9% and 12.7% respectively of the cumulative confirmed COVID-19 positive cases (which stand at 1,394).
Jamiru said, “The active cases emanating from the 10 weeks surge may lead to additional 15,000 high-risk contacts. All these in Western Area alone.”
“Just in case you might be wondering why more tests? Well, NaCOVERC has reason to believe that the number of people infected in Sierra Leone may be more than the surveillance data suggests. We need to prevent further infections, and the active surveillance will also help protect our health services.”
He said that with Sierra Leone’s case fatality ratio at 4.2%, and recoveries at 65.59% of the cumulative confirmed cases, NaCOVERC remains committed to treating infected persons, and focusing on contact tracing which is the core function of surveillance. On behalf of NaCOVERC lawyer Jamiru, encourage all community leaders, businesses, civil society and citizens generally to fully support the coming 10 weeks PUSH.
On behalf of NaCOVERC he called on all citizens to comply with the “COVID-19 Enhanced Measures” which include wearing face masks, observing social distancing, and maintaining hand hygiene practices, because they are the primary layers of protection. He urged everyone to take personal and societal responsibility.
By Sallieu S. Kanu
30/6/2020. ISSUE NO.: 7855