MONROVIA, November 13 (LINA) – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has announced that the National Legislature has been informed that she will not seek an extension to the State of Emergency following consultation with relevant stakeholders.

“This is not because the fight against Ebola is over,” the Liberian leader said in an address to the nation on the state-owned radio Thursday in Monrovia. 

The state of emergency ended November 12.

She explained that in the estimation of government and those consulted, the progress made coupled with the various measures and ongoing interventions, which can be sustained under the public health law, “have combined to reposition our country to sustain the fight against the virus until it is finally eradicated.”

President Sirleaf recalled that for a period in August and September, many Liberians became infected and died, while many more succumbed to treatable illnesses as hospitals were shut down and beds insufficient to treat the infected.

She noted that because the outbreak posed “a clear and present danger” to the State and in keeping with the Constitution, government was compelled to declare a state of emergency for a period of 90 days and take extraordinary measures to tackle the rising rates of infections, cut the transmission and treat the afflicted.

“The period of the state of emergency has now ended,” the Chief Executive said, commending partners, health workers who stood up and fought “in those dark hours” and the resilience of the citizenry.

LINA PTK