The streets of Freetown and other cities across Sierra Leone were completely deserted on Monday in accordance with a call by President Ernest Bai Koroma for all to stay at home and reflect on the havoc wreaked by the Ebola outbreak on the country, and pray for it to be stemmed.
In his address to the nation on 30 July announcing emergency measures to contain the outbreak, the president declared 4 August "a National Stay at Home Day for Family Reflection, Education and Prayers on the Ebola outbreak".
Freetown's business district - Wilberforce Street, Sani Abacha Street and Regent Road were completely lifeless with hardly anyone on the streets.
The same pictures ran throughout the west and east ends of the town.
Bo, Makeni and Kenema also reported similar ghost town looks with people and vehicles nowhere to be found except when they were on essential service.
Teams of Politico drove across the towns and saw mainly police vehicles.
Radio stations are playing Ebola jingles and interview health ministry officials about the disease and ways to prevent it.
The lockdown comes as military deployment codenamed "Operation Octopus" is being readied to get underway.
Military spokesman, Col Michael Samoura says 750 soldiers will be deployed in 13 locations in Kenema and Kailahun districts. He says 54 of them are from the army medical team while the others are soldiers who will provide security for health workers in quarantining areas and carrying out cordon-and-search operations.
Minister of information, Alpha Kanu says the country's new Ebola response plan costs US$ 26 million. He say the government has committed US$ 10 million and partners have met US$ 7. 5 million.
(C) Politico 05/08/14
