By Mohamed Konneh
FREETOWN, March 03, (232News) – The National Emergency Response Center (NaCOVERC) on Thursday 25th February 2021 closedown defaulting shops along Campbell Street and its surrounding. The exercise was part of effort to enforced COVID-19 rules and regulations but also businesses that have been fine and are refusing to pay the fines. Several shops before Thursday closedown were in default hand have been fine and asked to pay. The shops were found wanting as both customers and owners were not observing the enhance COVID regulations leading to fines which they are et to pay.
During Thursday exercise SEMs Team in-charge of Zone Three visited the area to enforce the regulations while closing down shops that have so far refused to pay their fines.
The SEMS Team lead, Inspector Edward Issa said that they were closing down the shops because the owners have deliberately failed to pay fines after the stipulated date.
He said the most of the shops visited were defaulting shops and have been fine long but refused to adhere and that they were in the area to enforced the orders.
“Businesses including shops continue to default as most of the people found in the shop or business places do not put on facemasks or observed social distance. They also do not make use of IPC materials at their frontage and this is against the COVID rules, Inspector Issa said.
The Zone Three Team lead warned owners to desist from flouting the enhance rules and regulations noting that Sierra Leone will only be able to defeat the virus if people continue to obey law.
He said the NACOVERC do not take pleasure is closing down shops or businesses but want people to simply comply by the rule and if they are fine they must make sure they pay the fines.
“We will frown at anybody found in the habit of flouting regulations as this is the only way we will be able curtail the spread of the virus. If you obey the rules we will not even have time to come raid you shop or business place. Let us all abide by these rules he said”.
At Campbell Street, one of the owners was rude and was arguing. The boys at the shop were also not listening to orders as the orders pasted at their frontage was put down and tore into pieces.
They were also refusing to close down the shops on the note that they were not aware of fine.
“This is pure advantage the shop owners said shouting at the top of his voice.
He also prevented journalists from taking pictures and this was done right in public view.
Sierra Leone institutes additional COVID-19 measures after it observed the second wave of the pandemic with increased number of cases.
Late in January the country instituted a partial lockdown measures preventing residents in the western area from traveling to the provinces. This was followed by a nationwide curfew starting from 10pm to 6am that has now been revised to 12am to 5am.
Prior to these measures, the country has been implementing measures for passengers arriving from outside of the country but also monitoring community transmission.
With Ebola outbreak in neighboring Guinea Sierra Leone this week took necessary step in preventing the virus from entering the country.
Community level activities are being implemented including orientation of local partners and community influencers to continue enhancing their roles in community sensitization.
Earlier this year a total of 56 shops around Sani Abacha Street were fined and warned straightly as they were in breach of COVID-19 regulations.
John Kabba Sesay attached to the operational team during the period said among other things that they were in that area to ensure that people comply with the rules of Covid-19 and also maintain social distance.
He pointed out that they want to ensure that shops adhere to IPC rule which is key in curbing the spread of the virus.
The shifting of the operation to shops is part of routine measures as most shops were not adhering to rules and regulations.
