Sierra Leone officials banned all Christmas and New Year's celebrations while they work to rid the country of the deadly Ebola virus. 

Soldiers will be occupying the streets on Dec. 25th, making sure no people spill out on to the streets celebrating the Christian holiday, reported Reuters. 

More than a quarter of Sierra Leone's population is Christian (most are Islamic), Reuters reported. Christmas celebrations are commonly seen this time of year. 

"[There will be] no Christmas and New Year celebrations this year," Palo Conteh, head of the department, said to AFP. "We will ensure that everybody remains at home to reflect on Ebola."

Conteh was not specific as to what activities this ban will include and for how long. 

Currently bars and nightspots are shut down and public gatherings are outlawed. There is no ban on going outdoors or working, reported Reuters. 

Sierra Leone surpassed Liberia in becoming the country worse effected by the Ebola outbreak. 

On Wednesday Sierra Leone reported 397 new cases during the week ending December 7 - three times as many as Liberia and Guinea combined.