MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Health (MoH), has issued addendum to the national Covid-19 traveler protocols for those it refers to as short-term travelers and humanitarian workers.
According to the MoH, the addendum provides guidance for persons coming to Liberia on short missions of 0-5 days duration, noting that such missions include technical assistance, invitations from the Government of Liberia, special government-authorized missions, international NGOs, military advisors and invitations from embassies and international organizations.
The addendum requires any agency or institution expecting a short mission or technical assistance to Liberia to fulfill a set of requirements including informing the chair/or co-chair of the COVID-19 Incident Management System (IMS) on the purpose of the mission, number of people expected, duration of the mission, location activity to be implemented, exact place of stay in Liberia, contact details while in Liberia and addresses and contacts of references in Liberia.
Other requirements to be fulfilled include: all persons arriving Liberia for a short mission MUST present the following upon arrival at the airport in Liberia: A negative COVID-19 test result (PCR) that was conducted at an accredited laboratory within 96 hours of arrival in Liberia; Evidence of the short stay in Liberia, e.g. airplane ticket or confirmed flight itinerary; Contact details while in Liberia, e.g. phone number AND name of hotel or lodging address.
It is also expected that all travelers on short-term missions to Liberia while in the country, will follow COVID-19 prevention measures, such as social distancing and wearing of mask.
The addendum to the Covid-19 protocols for short-term travellers and humanitarian workers furthers that if a mission is likely to be extended, the IMS chair/ co-chair MUST be informed 24-48 hours.
As for guidance for deployment of humanitarian workers to Liberia, the addendum notes that any agency or institution expecting humanitarian workers for a period of 15 days to 60 days or who are planning to deploy humanitarian workers should inform the chair or co-chair of the IMS on proposed deployment, the purpose of such deployment, area of deployment, place of stay in Liberia, detail contacts in Liberia.
All approved humanitarian workers for a period of 15-60 days must adhere to the following: present a negative COVID-19 test result (PCR) upon arrival at the airport in Liberia. The results must be from a COVID-19 test conducted at an accredited laboratory within 96 hours of arrival in Liberia; self-quarantine for 7 days, beginning the day after arrival in Liberia. During this period, they MUST remain in their hotels or place of lodging and inform their employers/managers in case they develop symptoms related to COVID-19.
At the end of the 7-day self-quarantine, they MUST be tested for COVID-19 from the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. If such test result is PCR negative, they will be allowed to proceed with the deployment. If result is PCR positive, they will undergo treatment based on the national case management protocols.
