Liberia information Minister Eugene Nagbe has confirmed that the head of the country Drug Enforcement Agency Director col. Marcus Soko on Friday morning died at the 14th Military Hospital where people with COVID-19 was tested positive for the virus.
Family and government sources confirmed the news to media earlier Friday April 24,2020 but could not confirmed COVID-19 as the cause of death.
The late Soko had reportedly been symptomatic and ailing for the past week at home, until he was rushed to the 14th Military Hospital late Thursday April 23, 2020 night where he was pronounced dead.
The official test result conducted on the remains is expected later on Friday April 24, 2020
It is reported that the deceased in recent days participated in a number of high-security meetings relating to the government’s COVID-19 response.
Mr. Soko was appointed by president Weah in 2018 as head of the LDEA. So far he is the first high profile government official in Liberia to die from the virus since the outbreak started in March.
In a related development, president George Weah has extended the lockdown for 4 counties by another two weeks and enforced compulsory usage of masks in the public.
According to an executive mansion release, anyone refusing to adapt the compulsory masks usage will be arrested and penalized.
Already, the legislature has approved a 60 Day state of emergency in the country as one of the measures to curb the spread of the Coronavirus.
