COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia: Difference between revisions

{{short description|Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Liberia}}

| map1 = COVID-19 Outbreak Cases in Liberia by counties.svg

{{legend|#ffd5d5|1–9 Confirmed cases}}

The '''COVID-19 pandemic in Liberia''' is part of the ongoing [[COVID-19 pandemic|worldwide pandemic]] of [[coronavirus disease 2019]] ({{nowrap|COVID-19}}) caused by [[severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus&nbsp;2]] ({{nowrap|SARS-CoV-2}}). The virus was confirmed to have reached [[Liberia]] in March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Liberia braces for coronavirus with defunct health system|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/liberia-braces-coronavirus-defunct-health-system-200403134851258.html|website=www.aljazeera.com|access-date=2020-05-26}}</ref>

The [[Case fatality rate|case fatality ratio]] for COVID-19 has been much lower than [[Severe acute respiratory syndrome|SARS of 2003]],<ref name=Imperial13March2020>{{cite web |url= https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/ |title=Crunching the numbers for coronavirus |website=Imperial News|access-date=15 March 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200319084913/https://www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196137/crunching-numbers-coronavirus/|archive-date=19 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Gov.ukHCIDDef>{{cite web |url=https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid |title=High consequence infectious diseases (HCID); Guidance and information about high consequence infectious diseases and their management in England |website=GOV.UK |language=en|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200303051938/https://www.gov.uk/guidance/high-consequence-infectious-diseases-hcid|archive-date=3 March 2020|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> but the [[Transmission (medicine)|transmission]] has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.<ref name=WFSA>{{cite web |url= https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus |title=World Federation Of Societies of Anaesthesiologists – Coronavirus |website=wfsahq.org|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200312233527/https://www.wfsahq.org/resources/coronavirus|archive-date=12 March 2020|access-date=15 March 2020}}</ref><ref name=Imperial13March2020/>

On 16 March, the first case in Liberia was confirmed, a government official who traveled from [[Switzerland]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-records-first-case-of-coronavirs-health-authorities-hold-emergency-meeting/ |title=Liberia Records First Case of Coronavirus; Health Authorities Hold Emergency Meeting|date=16 March 2020 |website=FrontPageAfrica |language=en-US|access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref> President [[George Weah]] controversially named the person, and claimed they violated screening protocols at [[Roberts International Airport]] (RIA) in [[Harbel]].<ref>[https://allafrica.com/stories/202003170609.html Liberia's First COVID-19 Case Eclipsed By True Lies] By William Q. Harmon And Robin Dopoe, Daily Observer, 17 Mar 2020</ref>

The second case was confirmed on 17 March, a close contact of the first case.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.africanews.com/2020/03/17/liberia-s-first-coronavirus-case-involves-official-returning-from-swiss-trip/|title=Liberia's index case refused COVID-19 quarantine, his worker now infected|last=AfricaNews|date=17 March 2020|website=Africanews|language=en|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref>

Liberia's third case of [[COVID-19]] was confirmed on 20 March. The third person was a returned traveler. Following this third case, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare declared a national health emergency on 22 March.<ref>[https://allafrica.com/stories/202003210252.html Liberia Confirms Third Coronavirus Case, Contacts Tracing Underway] By Rodney Sieh, FrontPage Africa, 20 March 2020</ref><ref name="aljazeera2020-04"/>

On 24 March, neighboring [[Ivory Coast]] announced it closed land borders with Liberia and [[Guinea]] in a measure to contain COVID-19.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/ivory-coast-closes-borders-with-liberia-guinea-due-to-the-outbreak-of-coronavirus-disease/|title=Ivory Coast Closes Borders with Liberia, Guinea Due to the Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease|date=2020-03-24|website=FrontPageAfrica|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-25}}</ref>

On 27 March, the [[United States|U.S.]] Embassy evacuated some [[Americans|U.S. citizens]] from Liberia.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-u-s-embassy-evacuates-citizens-from-liberia-amid-covid-19-pandemic/|title=Liberia: U.S. Embassy Evacuates Citizens from Liberia amid Covid-19 Pandemic|date=2020-03-26|website=FrontPageAfrica|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

At the end of the month all three cases remained active.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 72 |url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200401-sitrep-72-covid-19.pdf?sfvrsn=3dd8971b_2 |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=16 July 2020 |page=8 |date=1 April 2020}}</ref>

=== April 2020 ===

Liberia reported its first death on 4 April.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=963376770748825&id=164280647325112 |title=National Public Health Institute of Liberia-NPHIL |website=facebook.com |language=en |access-date=2020-04-04}}</ref>

On 5 April, the [[Germany|German]] Embassy together with the [[European Union]] organized a charter flight evacuating its citizens.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-covid-19-positive-flees-into-hiding-due-to-fear-of-stigmatization/|title=Liberia: COVID-19 Positive Flees into Hiding Due to Fear of Stigmatization|date=2020-04-07|website=FrontPageAfrica|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-07}}</ref>

On 7 April, President George Weah appointed a new National Response Coordinator for the Executive Committee on Coronavirus. The committee will be headed by former mayor of the [[Monrovia|City of Monrovia]], Madam [[Mary Broh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.emansion.gov.lr/2press.php?news_id=5140&related=7&pg=sp|title = President Weah Appoints Mary Broh to Coordinate Coronavirus Response}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/president-weah-appoints-mary-broh-to-coordinate-coronavirus-response/|title=President Weah Appoints Mary Broh To Coordinate Coronavirus Response|date=7 April 2020}}</ref> Some experts questioned Broh's ability to effectively coordinate the pandemic response given her inexperience in public health protocols. However, her appointment was noted to have been as a result of recommendations from the United Nations, particularly the [[World Health Organization]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://liberiapublicradio.com/2020/04/07/mary-broh-finda-bundoo-appointed-to-head-national-coronavirus-response-team/|title=Mary Broh , Finda Bundoo appointed to head National Coronavirus Response team &#124; Liberia Public Radio|first=L. P. R.|last=Admin}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

On 8 April, President [[George Weah]] declared lock-down measures to take effect on April 10 and last for 3 weeks, including suspension of all non-essential travel and curfews.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/front-slider/liberia-president-weah-announces-3-weeks-state-of-emergency/|title=Liberia: President Weah Announces 3 Weeks State of Emergency|date=8 April 2020}}</ref> Schools were closed across the country, and churches, mosques, bars, and beaches in parts of the country.<ref name="aljazeera2020-04" /> The National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL) recorded a record increase in the number of confirmed cases from 14 to 31, an increase of 17 new cases. They also reported 1 more death.

On 21 April, Liberia's legislature wrote a resolution requiring the public to wear masks in public. Enforcement of the law is unclear.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/health/will-you-wear-mask-why-liberias-lawmakers-want-compulsory-wearing-of-protective-device-in-public/|title=Will You Wear Mask? Liberia's Lawmakers Want Compulsory Wearing of 'Protective Device' In Public.|date=2020-04-19|website=FrontPageAfrica|language=en-US|access-date=2020-04-23}}</ref> As of that date, 29 confirmed cases were healthcare workers (out of 101 total confirmed cases).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://documentcloud.adobe.com/link/track/?pageNum=1&uri=urn%3Aaaid%3Ascds%3AUS%3A2604ffd5-4858-473b-a5cc-4e717a81d016|title=LR Situation Report #36 April 20 2020|date=April 20, 2020|access-date=April 23, 2020}}</ref>

During the month there were 138 new cases, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 141. There were 45 recoveries and 16 deaths, leaving 80 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 102 |url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200501-covid-19-sitrep.pdf?sfvrsn=742f4a18_4 |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=16 July 2020 |page=5 |date=1 May 2020}}</ref>

=== May 2020 ===

There were 147 new cases in May, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 288. Eleven patients died, raising the total death toll to 27. The number of recovered patients rose by 112 to 157, leaving 104 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 133 |url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200601-covid-19-sitrep-133.pdf?sfvrsn=9a56f2ac_4 |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=16 July 2020 |page=7 |date=1 June 2020}}</ref>

=== June 2020 ===

On 22 June, President [[George Weah]] extended the state of emergency by 30 days.<ref>https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-06-22/liberia-extends-covid-19-state-of-emergency-as-cases-rise-exponentially {{Bare URL inline|date=January 2022}}</ref>

During the month, there were 492 new cases, raising the total number of confirmed cases to 780. The death toll rose by 9 to 36. By the end of the month 324 patients had recovered, leaving 420 active cases.<ref>{{cite web |title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 163 |url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200701-covid-19-sitrep-163.pdf?sfvrsn=c202f05b_2 |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=16 July 2020 |page=7 |date=1 July 2020}}</ref>

=== July 2020 ===

The state of emergency was lifted on 12 July.<ref name="whomission">{{cite web|title=Liberia: How reinforced community health structures and capitalizing on lessons learned from the Ebola virus epidemic of 2014–16 helped the country respond to the challenge of its second major disease outbreak in five years|url=https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/liberia-how-reinforced-community-health-structures-and-capitalizing-on-lessons-learned-from-the-ebola-virus-epidemic-of-2014-16-helped-the-country-respond-to-the-challenge-of-its-second-major-disease-outbreak-in-five-years|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=10 July 2021|page=4|date=12 May 2021}}</ref>

There were 406 new cases in July, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1186. The death toll more than doubled to 75. The number of recovered patients increased by 346 to 670, leaving 441 active cases at the end of the month, an increase by 5% from the previous month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) situation report 194|url=https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/situation-reports/20200801-covid-19-sitrep-194.pdf?sfvrsn=401287f3_2|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2 August 2020|page=5|date=1 August 2020}}</ref> Model-based simulations indicate that the [[confidence interval]] for the [[Basic reproduction number#Effective reproduction number|time-varying reproduction number]] ''R_t'' was below 1.0 from July to September.<ref>''Future scenarios of the healthcare burden of COVID-19 in low- or middle-income countries'', [[MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis]] at [[Imperial College London]].</ref>

=== August 2020 ===

There were 118 new cases in August, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 1304. The death toll increased by 10% to 82. There were 350 active cases at the end of the month (a decrease by 21% from the end of July).<ref>{{cite web |title=Outbreak brief 33: COVID-19 pandemic – 1 September 2020 |url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-33-covid-19-pandemic-1-september-2020/?ind=1598972030109&filename=DRAFT_AfricaCDC_COVIDBrief_1SEPT20_EN.pdf&wpdmdl=6077&refresh=5f5c42ca3758f1599881930 |publisher=CDC Africa |access-date=15 September 2020 |page=4 |date=1 September 2020}}</ref>

=== September 2020 ===

There were 39 new cases in September, bringing the total number of cases to 1343. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 1221, leaving 40 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web |title=COVID-19 situation update for the WHO African region. External situation report 31 |url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/335766/SITREP_COVID-19_WHOAFRO_20200930-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y |publisher=World Health Organization |access-date=3 October 2020 |page=4 |date=30 September 2020}}</ref>

=== October 2020 ===

There were 83 new cases in October, bringing the total number of cases to 1426. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increasedto1279, leaving 65 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update|url=https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/weekly-epidemiological-update---3-november-2020|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=9 November 2020|page=14|date=3 November 2020}}</ref>

=== November 2020 ===

There were 169 new cases in November, bringing the total number of cases to 1595. The death toll rose to 83. The number of recovered patients increased to 1343, leaving 169 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 344 new cases, 8 new deaths in 24 hours|url=https://www.journalducameroun.com/en/covid-19-and-w-africa-344-new-cases-8-new-deaths-in-24-hours/|website=Journal du Cameroun|publisher=APA|access-date=2 December 2020|date=1 December 2020}}</ref>

=== December 2020 ===

There were 205 new cases in December, taking the total number of cases to 1800. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 1406, leaving 311 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 50: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-50-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/?ind=1609429697906&filename=AfricaCDC_COVIDBrief_29DEC20_EN.pdf&wpdmdl=7335&refresh=5fef40d5d94fe1609515221|publisher=CDC Africa|access-date=1 January 2021|page=4|date=29 December 2020}}</ref>

=== January 2021 ===

There were 139 new cases in January, taking the total number of cases to 1939. The death toll rose to 84. The number of recovered patients increased to 1760, leaving 95 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 3,461 new cases, 36 new deaths in 24 hours|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-and-wafrica-3461-new-cases-36-new-deaths-in-24-hours|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=1 February 2021|date=1 February 2021}}</ref>

=== February 2021 ===

There were 75 new cases in February, taking the total number of cases to 2014. The death toll rose to 85. The number of recovered patients increasedto1884, leaving 45 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 1,750 new cases, 20 new deaths in 24 hours|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-and-wafrica-1750-new-cases-20-new-deaths-in-24-hours|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=1 March 2021|date=28 February 2021}}</ref>

=== March 2021 ===

There were 28 new cases in March, taking the total number of cases to 2042. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increasedto1899, leaving 58 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 1,030 new cases, 13 new deaths in 24 hours|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-and-wafrica-1030-new-cases-13-new-deaths-in-24-hours|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=1 April 2021|date=1 April 2021}}</ref>

=== April 2021 ===

Vaccination started on 1 April, initially with 96,000 doses of [[AstraZeneca]]'s [[Covishield]] vaccine provided through the [[COVAX]] pillar. Two weeks into the vaccination campaign, 2735 persons had received their first inoculation.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID vaccination drive picks up|url=https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/covid-vaccination-drive-picks-up/|publisher=Liberian Observer Corporation|website=Liberianobserver|access-date=3 May 2021|date=19 April 2021|last1=Dopoe|first1=Robin}}</ref>

There were 57 new cases in April, taking the total number of cases to 2099. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 1949, leaving 65 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 725 new cases, 8 new deaths in 24 hours|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-and-wafrica-725-new-cases-8-new-deaths-in-24-hours|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=3 May 2021|date=30 April 2021}}</ref>

=== May 2021 ===

There were 80 new cases in May, taking the total number of cases to 2179. The death toll rose to 86. The number of recovered patients increased to 2033, leaving 60 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 and W/Africa: 14,454 cases, 184 deaths in one month|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-and-wafrica-14454-cases-184-deaths-in-one-month|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=1 June 2021|date=1 June 2021}}</ref>

=== June 2021 ===

There were 1721 new cases in June, raising the total number of cases to 3900. The death toll rose to 127. The number of recovered patients increased to 2315, leaving 1458 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19: West Africa records 12,370 infections, 210 deaths in June|url=http://apanews.net/en/news/covid-19-west-africa-records-12370-infections-210-deaths-in-june|website=APA news|publisher=APA|access-date=5 July 2021|date=30 June 2021}}</ref>

=== July 2021 ===

Liberia took delivery on 25 July of 302,400 doses of the [[Janssen COVID-19 vaccine]] donated by the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia receives additional 302,400 doses of COVID-19 vaccines|url=https://moh.gov.lr/press-release/2021/liberia-receives-additional-302400-doses-of-covid-19-vaccines/|publisher=Ministry of Health|access-date=11 August 2021|date=28 July 2021}}</ref>

There were 1504 new cases in July, raising the total number of cases to 5404. The death toll rose to 148. The number of recovered patients increased to 2715, leaving 2541 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/343406/OEW31-260701082021.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=3 August 2021|page=4|date=1 August 2021}}</ref>

=== August 2021 ===

There were 190 new cases in August, raising the total number of cases to 5594. The death toll rose to 245. The number of recovered patients increased to 5240, leaving 109 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/344613/OEW35-2329082021.pdf?sequence=5|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=5 September 2021|page=4|date=29 August 2021}}</ref>

=== September 2021 ===

There were 205 new cases in September, raising the total number of cases to 5799. The death toll rose to 286. The number of recovered patients increased to 5458, leaving 55 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=COVID-19 situation report for WHO Africa Region|url=https://tiba-partnership.org/tiba/sites/sbsweb2.bio.ed.ac.uk.tiba/files/pdf/WHO-AFRO%20COVID-19%20Situation%20Report%2001.10.2021.pdf|publisher=NIHR global health research unit tackling infections to benefit Africa at the University of Edinburgh|access-date=11 October 2021|page=33|date=30 September 2021}}</ref>

=== October 2021 ===

There were 16 new cases in October, bringing the total number of cases to 5815. The death toll rose to 287. The number of recovered patients increased to 5523, leaving 5 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/347690/OEW44-2531102021.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=2 November 2021|page=6|date=31 October 2021}}</ref>

=== November 2021 ===

There were 14 new cases in November, bringing the total number of cases to 5829. The death toll remained unchanged. The number of recovered patients increased to 5535, leaving 7 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia COVID-19 Daily Sitrep 625 (November 30, 2021)|url=https://www.nphil.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/COVID-19-SitRep-625_30-November-2021-1-1.pdf|publisher=National Public Health Institute of Liberia|access-date=1 December 2021|date=30 November 2021}}</ref>

=== December 2021 ===

There were 449 new cases in December, bringing the total number of cases to 6278. The death toll remained unchanged.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 103: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-103-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/|publisher=Africa CDC|access-date=6 January 2022|page=5|date=4 January 2022}}</ref>

=== January 2022 ===

There were 976 new cases in January, bringing the total number of cases to 7254. The death toll rose to 290. The number of recovered patients increased to 6882, leaving 82 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 107: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-107-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/|publisher=Africa CDC|access-date=4 February 2022|page=5|date=1 February 2022}}</ref>

=== February 2022 ===

There were 132 new cases in February, bringing the total number of cases to 7386. The death toll rose to 294. The number of recovered patients increased to 7070, leaving 22 active cases at the end of the month.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liberia COVID-19 Daily Sitrep 715 (February 28, 2022)|url=https://www.nphil.gov.lr/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/COVID-19-SitRep-715_28-February-2022-1-1.pdf|publisher=National Public Health Institute of Liberia|access-date=4 March 2022|date=28 February 2022}}</ref>

Liberia was one of the first countries to start screening passengers for COVID-19 at [[List of airports in Liberia|airports]].<ref name="aljazeera2020-04">{{cite news |title=Liberia braces for coronavirus with defunct health system |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/liberia-braces-coronavirus-defunct-health-system-200403134851258.html |access-date=6 April 2020 |work=aljazeera.com}}</ref> However, initially it had just one or two functioning [[PCR]] analysis devices.<ref name="whomission" />

There has been controversy in the country over whether people with infections should be named. The National Public Health Institute of Liberia's policy was to not release names of people with infections to reduce stigmatization and protect privacy, but other government officials ([[George Weah|President George Weah]], Information Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe) have advocated for releasing names for better contact tracing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Government-Organization/National-Public-Health-Institute-of-Liberia-NPHIL-164280647325112/|title=National Public Health Institute of Liberia-NPHIL|website=facebook.com}}</ref>