Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio has tested negative in coronavirus tests after a 15-day self-isolation, he confirmed on Twitter on Monday, reported Africa News. He informed that he is healthy and determined to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
“After my fifteen-day self-isolation period, all tests for #coronavirus are negative. I am very healthy and determined as ever to fight this Corona pandemic in Sierra Leone,” he said in a tweet.
President Bio was put on self-isolation after one of his bodyguards tested positive for COVID-19. He however continued to work from home. He will resume work in his office from Wednesday. The president’s family members were also in good health and No one in the household of the first family had shown any symptoms related to the virus.
Sierra Leone is currently under a three day nationwide lockdown that ends on Tuesday, May 5. Maada Bio imposed the lockdown to cease community transmission of the coronavirus.
While announcing the lockdown, President Bio said the lockdown will allow the National Covid-19 Response Team to trace and detect any possible new cases, increase testing and isolation, expand treatment, and to take all other measures required to break the transmission of the virus in the country.
Sierra Leone reported its first confirmed COVID-19 case on March 31. As of May 4, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country stood at 166 including nine deaths and 29 recoveries.
Last week, the government declared a two-day grace period Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, to allow people to prepare for the lockdown. Banks were allowed to work on the two days, even though Friday was declared a public holiday to mark Workers’ Day.
On Friday, the government also announced a cash transfer to poor families to cushion the potential effect of the lockdown.
