May 13: No case, UAE donation arrives
Sierra Leone recorded zero new cases for the first time in almost exactly one month on May 12. The last time it did was on 13 April.
The total number of confirmed cases stands at 338. The death toll is at 20 whiles the recoveries are at 72. The country remains one of West Africas least impacted so far.
Meanwhile, a consignment of COVID-19 supplies were delivered to the country from the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, May 12.
The Government and people of Sierra Leone are most grateful for the medical supplies you sent us. Your generosity in this hour of need will further strengthen our response to COVID-19, president Bio wrote in a tweet thanking the UAE ruler Mohammed bin Zayed.
Accra Africa, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Niger have also benefited from the UAE Aid, which is a leading soft power outlet of the Emirati government.
I want to thank my very good friend, His Highness, MohamedBinZayed. The Government and people of #SierraLeone are most grateful for the medical supplies you sent us. Your generosity in this hour of need will further strengthen our response to #COVID19. pic.twitter.com/83TMXjqbFn President Julius Maada Bio (PresidentBio) May 12, 2020
May 4: President tests negative after self-isolation
President Julius Maada Bio has tested negative after a 15-day self-isolation, he confirmed on Twitter today.
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 entered self-isolation after a bodyguard of his tested positive for the virus. He, however continued to work from home. He is set to resume work in his office on Wednesday.
Sierra Leone is currently under a three day nationwide lockdown that ends tomorrow. Maada Bio imposed it to contain community transmission of the virus. The case statistics as of May 4 were as follows: 166 confirmed cases, nine deaths and 29 recoveries.
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. #washhands#StayHome #Maskup#Staysafe President Julius Maada Bio (@PresidentBio) May 4, 2020
April 30: Three-day nationwide lockdown imposed
President Maada Bio has subsequently imposed a three-day nationwide lockdown starting Sunday May 3. He cited epidemiological data and other evidence that indicated that there is community transmission of the virus.
In a nationwide address he said the government had decided to intensify contact tracing and detection; scale up testing and isolation and expand treatment. Banks are expected to open on Friday and Saturday ahead of the lockdown.
Sierra Leone more than doubled its coronavirus cases in the last 10 days (April 20 30 from 64 cases to 124). As of May 1, twelve new cases had been detected bringing the tally to 136 confirmed cases.
The number of people in quarantine has more than doubled and now
