Having regard to the threat the coronavirus poses to the lives of the citizenry and the country’s economy, and the need to take effective measures to prevent, protect and curtail its spread throughout the country, President Bio has with immediate effect declared a Public Emergency throughout the country for a period of 12 months.

Yesterday Tuesday 23rd March 2020, President Bio in his second address to the nation in less than a week since the coronavirus plague, said, “This is not a lock down” and that nobody must use it as an excuse to hoard goods, hike prices or engage in any act of lawlessness.

The President announced a public emergency following the rapid global spread of the coronavirus that poses great risk to human life and the country’s economy, a situation, the President says, requires effective measures to prevent, protect and curtail its spread in the country.

According to the President, the public emergency is not to make the lives of citizens difficult or unbearable, but to reecho government’s determination to protect the lives of its citizenry against the coronavirus now declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization.

He assured that the action will have an impact for the well being of the beloved nation as they will continue to deploy armed forces and police as necessary to enforce strict compliance with all public health directives.

The coronavirus pandemic which broke out in China last December has overwhelmed health facilities in many advanced countries and killed thousands of people globally.

Meanwhile, the State of Public Emergency which was laid in Parliament for approval few hours after it was pronounced by the President was not approved due to several factors which includes but not limited to the one year period. However the Leader of Government Business, Hon Sidie Tunis is to engage leaders of various opposition parties in Parliament to get a common ground.

The House stands adjourned to Thursday 26 March 2020.