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Covid-19: Health Ministry warns against complacency

May 4, 2020, 11:46 AM | Article By: Arfang M.S. Camara

After the confirmation of five new cases of coronavirus (covid-19) in The Gambia, Health Ministry is urging the general public not to be complacent with the issue of covid-19. The ministry added that the country has now 7 active cases and two probable cases.

Dr. Mustapha Bittaye, acting director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health in a Saturday press briefing reechoed that covid-19 is real and that people should strictly adhere to the WHO and the Ministry of Health recommendations and guidelines on covid-19 by avoiding public gatherings and practicing social distancing.   

Dr. Bittaye revealed that the five new positive cases is the highest number of cases confirmed in a single day.

He added that for the newly confirmed cases, one case was reported from Central River Region (CRR) making it the first confirmed case from that region, while one is linked to the 12th case and three were close contacts of the 11th case.

He noted that all confirmed cases have been in quarantine and are now moved to the treatment center, adding that only one of the confirmed cases is symptomatic.

“Specifically, we would like to remind ‘Koriteh’ sales persons (“wanterr”), shop keepers, salons, barber shops, tailors and general merchant dealers that the state of public emergency regulations on their business operations remain valid and will be enforced by the local government authorities and security personnel.”

Meanwhile, Senegal has 1,182 positive cases of covid-19; 372 recoveries, 9 deaths and 800 under treatment.

Globally from 31st December 2019 to 1st May 2020, a total of 3,400,323 cases of covid-19 (in accordance with the applied case definitions in the affected countries) have been reported. Of these, 239, 570 deaths were registered and 1,081,162 have recovered from the disease.