His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, has by proclamation declared an extension of the State of Emergency for a period of thirty (30) days effective June 22, 2020 (the date of its expiration) and ending on July 21, 2020pending the Legislature’s deliberation on the President’s request to decide whether the extension of the state of emergency is justified or whether the measures taken thereunder are appropriate.

The proclamation reveals that all efforts of the Government to control the effect of Covid-19 pandemic on our people, especially the SOE declaration and its associated protocols to include restrictions on movement of people, social distancing and wearing of masks, the number of people infected by Covid-19 pandemic has exponentially increased since the SOE Declaration. This obviously necessitates the extension of the SOE for another period of thirty (30) days, during which the Government will re-examine its response strategy to Covid-19 pandemic and introduce a program of action to better secure and protect the Liberian people against this dreadful scourge.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Incidents Management System (IMS) reported on June 20, 2020 the total confirmed cases 626, total recovery 254 and total deaths 34.

The Proclamation recalls that in response to the global effect of the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on the people and residents of Liberia, President Weah declared a State of Emergency on April 8, 2020, and was approved by the Legislature in a Joint Resolution of the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate on April 17, 2020, and was published into handbills on April 21, 2020.

The Proclamation added that prior to the expiration of the aforesaid Joint Resolution #002/2020, the President of the Republic of Liberia requested the Legislature for an extension thereof, for reasons that notwithstanding all the measures imposed by the State of Emergency, especially the restrictions on the movements of people and the health protocols (stay-at-home order, social distancing and wearing of masks), the incidence of persons infected by Covid-19 pandemic and the incidence of death caused by Covid-19 pandemic have increased exponentially. 

The President has requested the Legislature for the extension of the State of Emergency, he informed the Legislature that the extension will provide the opportunity for the Government to re-examine its response strategy to Covid-19 fight and thereby better secure and protect the people and residents of the Republic of Liberia against this dreadful scourge, the proclamation states.