“COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency in Liberia”, WHO Country Representative to Liberia Discloses
By: Sylvester Choloplay
Liberia -May 10, 2023: The World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative to Liberia has disclosed that COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency in Liberia.
According to Dr. Clement Lugala Peter, the declaration followed discussion by the International Health Regulation Emergency Committee on COVID-19 on 4th May this year.
He said a decline in COVID-19-related hospitalizations and ICU admissions and the circulating variants which are not associated with increased disease severity amongst other things observed are the basic evidences.
Dr. Peter revealed that though the global risk assessment of COVID-19 remains high, there is evidence of reducing risks to human health.
He was speaking Wednesday, May 10, 2023 in Monrovia with Journalists.
He said the International Health Regulation Emergency Committee on COVID-19 made some recommendations that countries like Liberia which experienced decreasing trend in COVID-19 deaths should follow.
Dr. Peter warned that during the transition, countries like Liberia are encouraged to implement WHO experts’ recommendations such as sustaining national capacity gains and prepare for future events to avoid the occurrence of a cycle of panic and neglect.
Integrate COVID-19 vaccination into life course vaccination programs and maintain efforts to increase COVID-19 vaccination coverage for all people in the high-priority groups.
The WHO Country Representative also urged the Liberian Government to continue to work with communities to achieve strong, resilient, and inclusive risk communications and community engagement.
He said Liberia has not been free of COVID-19 and there is a need for community dwellers, especially in densely populated areas, continue to exercise all efforts to make significant fights against COVID-19 in the country.
