Story highlights Sierra Leone president orders 3-day national lockdown as part of efforts to stop the spread of Ebola

Sierra Leoneans are asked to stay home March 27-29 and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. April 4, 11 and 18

(CNN) The president of Sierra Leone has an idea on how to curtail the spread of Ebola: Get everybody to stay inside.

President Ernest Bai Koroma on Saturday launched a campaign called "Zero Ebola," in which almost all Sierra Leoneans are supposed to stay indoors March 27-29 and from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on three consecutive Saturdays -- April 4, 11 and 18.

"The campaign will provide an opportunity for communities to be directly involved in the drive to zero cases, to reflect and to pray for the eradication of this disease from our country," he said in a statement.

Sierra Leona tried a three-day lockdown last Septembe r in what was primarily an informational campaign, with volunteers going door-to-door to talk with residents about the virus. In August, the Liberian government locked down one of the poorest neighborhoods in the capital of Monrovia in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus. The move resulted in riots.

No commercial activity is supposed to occur during the upcoming lockdown, Koroma said. Because March 29 is Palm Sunday, church services will be allowed from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Health workers, journalists and public safety officers are exempted.

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