Gambia has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, according to health officials.
The Minister of health and social welfare Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh made the announcement on Tuesday.
The patient is said to be a Gambian citizen who arrived from the United Kingdom and passed through Banjul international Airport.
He said “A 21 years old lady who travelled from UK 14th March 2020 had a transit through Morocco then arrived Gambia early morning 15th March 2020.
16th March 2020, she started developing fever but no cough and sore throat, she drove herself to MRC to do test.”
Dr Samateh said on “Tuesday 17th March 2020, the outcome of the result turn positive.”
Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has announced that all public gathering, workshops and events have been suspended in the Gambia.
School’s will also closed for 21 days effect from tomorrow Wednesday March 18th 2020 amid the fear of COVID-19.
The president said “realising how vulnerable people are during public gatherings, I hereby declare that all public gatherings are suspended henceforth.
This suspension includes all international and local conferences, workshops and seminars to be hosted in The Gambia.”
“All schools, including universities, madrassas and daras or majlis will be closed from Wednesday, 18th March 2020 for 21 days.
Furthermore, all other public gatherings in whatever form, including lumos (open markets) and Gamos are immediately suspended for three weeks,” the president added.
Barrow said “the suspension period will be subject to review as we get updates from the experts.
As another preventive measure, all travellers from hotspot countries will be isolated for fourteen (14) days upon arrival in The Gambia” the president said.
Meanwhile Gambia state television has reported that over 355 suspected case of coronavirus were tested and 149 people were discharged and the rest are in self isolation.
Gambia joins over 30 African countries who have now confirmed the virus with cases now surpassing 400 with at least 8 deaths.
Source: Africafeeds.com
