H.E. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, has extended the state of emergency by additional thirty days, beginning today, June 22, 2020.
In his proclamation, President Weah said, “Whereas, in response to the effect of Covid-19 on the people and residents of Republic of Liberia, the President of Liberia proclaimed a State of Emergency on 8 April, 2020, which State of Emergency was approved by the Legislature by a Joint Resolution of the House of Representatives and the Liberian Senate on 17 April, 2020, and approved by the President and published into handbills on 20 and 21 April 2020 respectively; and
“Whereas, prior to the expiration of the aforesaid Joint Resolution the President 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 and the incidence of death caused by Covid-19 have increased exponentially; and
“Whereas, as at 17 June, 2020, the Information Management Sysstems (IMS) has reported 542 (five hundred forty-two) total confirmed infected persons and 33 (thirty-three) deaths;
“Whereas, in the President’s request for extension of the State of Emergency, he informed the Legislature that the extension will provide the opportunity for the Executive to re-examine its response strategy to Covid-19 and thereby better secure and protect the people and residents of the Republic of Liberia against this dreadful scourge; and
“Clearly, notwithstanding all the efforts of the Government to control the effect of Covid-19 on our people, especially the SOE Declaration and its attending restrictions on movement of people, social distancing protocols and wearing of masks, the number of people infected by Covid-19 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 and introduce a program of action to better secure and protect the Liberian people against this dreadful scourge.
“Whereas, pending the Legislature deliberation on the President’s request to decide whether the extension of a state of emergency is justified or whether the measures taken thereunder are appropriate;
“NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE MANNEH WEAH, President of the Republic of Liberia, by virtue of the Authority in me vested, do hereby declare and proclaim an extension of the State of Emergency for a period of thirty (30) days effective 22 June (the date of its expiration) and ending on the twenty-one (21) day of July, 2020.”