Sierra Leone is among three West African nations most affected by the Ebola outbreak. Guinea and Liberia are also grappling with the deadly virus. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization established a coordination center in Guinea's capital, Conakry, to assist with resource mobilization to the infected areas.
The president of Sierra Leone said he would travel Friday to Conakry to meet with leaders to discuss their coordinated response to the outbreak.
He also announced the establishment of a Presidential Task Force on Ebola to implement the following actions for a period of 60 to 90 days:
-- All epicenters of the disease will be quarantined;
-- Police and the military will give support to health officers and NGOs to do their work unhindered and restrict movements to and from epicenters;
-- Localities and homes where the disease is identified will be quarantined until cleared by medical teams;
-- Public meetings and gatherings will be restricted with the exception of essential meetings related to Ebola sensitization and education;
-- Active surveillance and house-to-house searches shall be conducted to trace and quarantine Ebola victims and suspects;
-- Parliament is recalled to promote MPs leadership at constituency levels;
-- Paramount chiefs are required to establish by-laws that would complement other efforts to deal with the Ebola outbreak;
-- Mayors, chairmen of councils and councilors are hereby required to support Ebola control measures in their local government areas;
-- All deaths must be reported authorities before burial;
-- New protocols for arriving and departing passengers have been instituted at the Lungi International Airport;
-- All foreign trips by ministers and other government officials will be cancelled except absolutely essential engagements.
August 4, he said, has been declared a "National Stay at Home Day for Family Reflection, Education and Prayers on the Ebola outbreak."
The Ebola virus is spread by close contact and typically kills up to 90 percent of its victims. There is no known cure or antivirus.