MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s Ministry of Health has shown that the vice president, who traveled to Ghana on Tuesday for medical treatment, tested positive for COVID-19.
First, officials denied that Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor had coronavirus. She is an ex-wife of former imprisoned Liberian President Charles Taylor.
But Health Minister Wilhelmina Jallah said in a statement that the vice president tested positive for the virus on August 10 and was allowed to travel abroad for treatment.
The 56-year-old flew to Ghana on Tuesday after having “respiratory complications,” he announced Wednesday.
Liberia’s fitness sector has remained weak since the end of the country’s civil war 17 years ago. Government officials and those who can do so regularly travel abroad for medical care.
Liberians have expressed their sadness and frustration at the mediocrity of the fitness care system.
Since Howard-Taylor became vice president of former footballer George Weah’s president in 2018 as part of a coalition deal, her appointments have been strained and she has said she is not treated as the second-in-command.