Bo District COVID-19 Emergency Center (Bo DiCOVERC) has laid off eight-five support staff.

BO DiCOVERC District Coordinator, David Fortune said the move is in line with efforts to scale down the work force owing to the decrease in the number of confirmed positive cases in the district.

He said informed by scientific data and consistent with low caseloads recorded daily which spirals a decrease in the positivity ratio, they have decided to again cut down considerably on the workforce.

While he reaffirmed commitments to have some staff retained including the core staff, Fortune endeared his listening audience to always be on the alert should there be a major spike which would require their expertise.

He faced the commitments of all support staff who through thick and thin availed their unflinching support to cut the chain of new transmissions and also the just concluded surge operations for the COVID Vaccines.

Social Mobilisation Pillar Lead, Hon. Eric Jumu, Field Monitor, Rtd. Major Prince Kombay, Quarantine Manager, Wiston Songo, Psychosocial Pillar Lead, Fatmata YeamaIddris among others hurled congratulatory sentiments at the support staff for their tireless efforts during the peak of the Third Wave of the Indian variant but also appealed to NaCOVERC to expedite outstanding payments to them.

Some of the staff present thanked all and sundry for according them onerous responsibilities to serve during the peak of the Coronavirus pandemic and urged management to speedily settle their outstanding claims.

With initial staff strength of over 400 which has subsequently been squeezed to 34, it is highly probable that more would follow.

Certification ceremony for all staff climaxed the ceremony. Bo district has 149 confirmed cumulative cases with 7 deaths.