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 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|date=7 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name=":0" />

* 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>

* There were 139 new cases in January,<ref name="jan21">{{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> 75 in February,<ref name="feb21">{{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> 28 in March,<ref name="mar21">{{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> 57 in April,<ref name="apr21">{{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> 80 in May,<ref name="may21">{{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> 1721 in June,<ref name="jun21">{{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> 1504 in July,<ref name="jul21">{{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> 190 in August,<ref name="aug21">{{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> 205 in September,<ref name="sep21">{{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> 16 in October,<ref name="oct21">{{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> 14 in November,<ref name="nov21>{{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> and 449 in December.<ref name="dec21">{{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> The total number of cases stood at 1939 in January,<ref name="jan21"></ref> 2014 in February,<ref name="feb21"></ref> 2042 in March,<ref name="mar21"></ref> 2099 in April,<ref name="apr21"></ref> 2179 in May,<ref name="may21"></ref> 3900 in June,<ref name="jun21"></ref> 5404 in July,<ref name="jul21"></ref> 5594 in August,<ref name="aug21"></ref> 5799 in September,<ref name="sep21"></ref> 5815 in October,<ref name="oct21"></ref> 5829 in November,<ref name="nov21"></ref> and 6278 in December.<ref name="dec21"></ref>

* The number of recovered patients stood at 1760 in January,<ref name="jan21"></ref> 1884 in February,<ref name="feb21"></ref> 1899 in March,<ref name="mar21"></ref> 1949 in April,<ref name="apr21"></ref> 2033 in May,<ref name="may21"></ref> 2315 in June,<ref name="jun21"></ref> 2715 in July,<ref name="jul21"></ref> 5240 in August,<ref name="aug21"></ref> 5458 in September,<ref name="sep21"></ref> 5523 in October,<ref name="oct21"></ref> and 5535 in November,<ref name="nov21"></ref> leaving 95 active cases at the end of January,<ref name="jan21"></ref> 45 at the end of February,<ref name="feb21"></ref> 58 at the end of March,<ref name="mar21"></ref> 65 at the end of April,<ref name="apr21"></ref> 60 at the end of May,<ref name="may21"></ref> 1458 at the end of June,<ref name="jun21"></ref> 2541 at the end of July,<ref name="jul21"></ref> 109 at the end of August,<ref name="aug21"></ref> 55 at the end of September,<ref name="sep21"></ref> 5 at the end of October,<ref name="oct21"></ref> and 7 at the end of November.<ref name="nov21"></ref>

* The death toll rose to 84 in January,<ref name="jan21"></ref> 85 in February,<ref name="feb21"></ref> 86 in May,<ref name="may21"></ref> 127 in June,<ref name="jun21"></ref> 148 in July,<ref name="jul21"></ref> 245 in August,<ref name="aug21"></ref> 286 in September,<ref name="sep21"></ref> and 287 in October.<ref name="oct21"></ref>

* Modelling carried out by the Regional Office for Africa of the WHO suggests that due to under-reporting, the true number of cases by the end of 2021 was around 2.2 million while the true number of COVID-19 deaths was more than three thousand.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Cabore|first1=Joseph Waogodo|last2=Karamagi|first2=Humphrey Cyprian|last3=Kipruto|first3=Hillary Kipchumba|last4=Mungatu|first4=Joseph Kyalo|last5=Asamani|first5=James Avoka|last6=Droti|first6=Benson|last7=Titi-ofei|first7=Regina|last8=Seydi|first8=Aminata Binetou Wahebine|last9=Kidane|first9=Solyana Ngusbrhan|last10=Balde|first10=Thierno|last11=Gueye|first11=Abdou Salam|last12=Makubalo|first12=Lindiwe|last13=Moeti|first13=Matshidiso R|title=COVID-19 in the 47 countries of the WHO African region: a modelling analysis of past trends and future patterns|journal=The Lancet Global Health|date=1 June 2022|pages=S2214109X22002339|doi=10.1016/S2214-109X(22)00233-9|pmid=35659911 |pmc=9159735 |url=https://www.thelancet.com/action/showPdf?pii=S2214-109X%2822%2900233-9|access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref>

* There were 976 new cases in January,<ref name="jan22">{{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> 132 in February,<ref name="feb22">{{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> 14 in March,<ref name="mar22">{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/352849/OEW14-280303042022.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=12 April 2022|page=5|date=4 April 2022}}</ref> 34 in April,<ref name="apr22">{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 120: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-120-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/|publisher=Africa CDC|access-date=7 May 2022|page=5|date=3 May 2022}}</ref> 22 in May, 41 in June,<ref name="jun22">{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 129: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://au.int/sites/default/files/documents/41984-doc-AfricaCDC_COVIDBrief_5July22_EN.pdf|publisher=Africa CDC|access-date=7 July 2022|page=4|date=5 July 2022}}</ref> 55 in July,<ref name="july">{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/361525/OEW32-0107082022.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=14 August 2022|page=10|date=7 August 2022}}</ref> 346 in August,<ref name="aug22">{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/362389/OEW36-290804092022.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=14 September 2022|page=14|date=4 September 2022}}</ref> 63 in September,<ref name="sep22">{{cite web|title=Outbreak brief 142: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic|url=https://africacdc.org/download/outbreak-brief-142-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-pandemic/|publisher=Africa CDC|access-date=5 October 2022|page=6|date=4 October 2022}}</ref> 98 in October,<ref name="oct22">{{cite web|title=Weekly bulletin on outbreaks and other emergencies|url=https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/364078/OEW44-2430102022.pdf|publisher=World Health Organization|access-date=8 November 2022|page=14|date=30 October 2022}}</ref> and 26 in November. The total number of cases stood at 7254 in January,<ref name="jan22"></ref> 7386 in February,<ref name="feb22"></ref> 7400 in March,<ref name="mar22"></ref> 7434 in April,<ref name="apr22"></ref> 7456 in May, 7497 in June,<ref name="jun22"></ref> 7552 in July,<ref name="july"></ref> 7898 in August,<ref name="aug22"></ref> 7961 in September,<ref name="sep22"></ref> 7996 in October,<ref name="oct22"></ref> and 8022 in November.

* The number of recovered patients stood at 6882 in January,<ref name="jan22"></ref> 7070 in February,<ref name="feb22"></ref> 7097 in March,<ref name="mar22"></ref> 7106 in April,<ref name="apr22"></ref> 7213 in July,<ref name="july"></ref> 7482 in August,<ref name="aug22"></ref> 7636 in September,<ref name="sep22"></ref> and 7694 in October,<ref name="oct22"></ref> leaving 82 active cases at the end of January,<ref name="jan22"></ref> 22 at the end of February,<ref name="feb22"></ref> 9 at the end of March,<ref name="mar22"></ref> 34 at the end of April,<ref name="apr22"></ref> 45 at the end of July,<ref name="july"></ref> 122 at the end of August,<ref name="aug22"></ref> 31 at the end of September,<ref name="sep22"></ref> and 8 at the end of October.<ref name="oct22"></ref>

* The death toll rose to 290 in January and to 294 in February.<ref name="jan22"></ref><ref name="feb22"></ref>

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>