Sierra Leone to try lockdown to halt Ebola spread
- 10 years ago
Residents wait to have their temperatures checked in Sierra Leone. It's one of the countries worst hit by West Africa's Ebola outbreak.
Health workers are trying to identify new cases of the deadly virus and stop it from spreading.
But resources are scarce. That's why the government has taken extraordinary measures to bring it under control -- Lockdown.
For three days this month people here won't be allowed to leave their homes.
Police officers and soldiers will be deployed across the country to enforce the lockdown.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SIERRA LEONE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, THEO NICHOL, SAYING:
"Initially it's a three day lock down but after the three days government will reconsider. If the result coming now that the spread is minimized, we may be tempted to increase the days, some other days."
But not everyone agrees with the drastic move.
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (SEPTEMBER 6, 2014) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
Health workers are trying to identify new cases of the deadly virus and stop it from spreading.
But resources are scarce. That's why the government has taken extraordinary measures to bring it under control -- Lockdown.
For three days this month people here won't be allowed to leave their homes.
Police officers and soldiers will be deployed across the country to enforce the lockdown.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) SIERRA LEONE DEPUTY MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION, THEO NICHOL, SAYING:
"Initially it's a three day lock down but after the three days government will reconsider. If the result coming now that the spread is minimized, we may be tempted to increase the days, some other days."
But not everyone agrees with the drastic move.
FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE (SEPTEMBER 6, 2014) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)