By Ayodele Deen-Cole
Land and sea borders across the
country will soon reopen for normal business after been closed down few months
ago by the government to curb the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in the
country.
This ease in restriction was disclosed
by the Head of Communications of the National COVID-19 Respond Committee
(NARCOVERC), Solomon Jamiru Esq., after a COVID-19 security meeting held last
weekend.
Currently, many petty traders, boat
owners and the National Revenue Authority (NRA) reportedly face severe economic
challenge as a result of the border closure. The reopening of the land and sea
boarders will therefore bring relief to many traders plying the Guinea-Sierra
Leone and the Sierra Leone-Liberia routes. It will also help the NRA to
increase revenue generation from those business areas.
According to the Head of Communications
at NARCOVERC, the reopening of those sectors is a continuation on the
government’s process to ease some of the COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the
government, adding that NARCOVERC has eased restriction on some sectors like
schools, churches and mosques and some other public places.
However, he noted that the easing
of some restriction does not mean that people should compromise infection and
control measures put in place by the government, like the use of facemasks and
social distancing, among others. Lawyer Solomon Jamiru stated that government
has now made the use of facemask mandatory in all public places, including
local markets, adding that security forces will start arresting people who fail
to use the facemask and practice social distancing.
The NARCOVERC mouthpiece continued
that the facemask law does not include outdoor activities; however, he
continued that security forces will enforce the law in market places, naming
ceremonies and marriages. He continued that a fine of one hundred thousand Leones
will be imposed on anyone found guilty and on the spot payment made to UTB or
any other bank that will be recommended by NARCOVERC.
Solomon Jamiru further noted that despite
the reopening of the borders, the main principle of government is to see that
the infection does not spread, saying that they will be in constant touch with
the security people.
