The
acting director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye on Saturday in a press
briefing confirmed that the country has registered five new cases of covid-19,
making a total of 17.
He
stated that Saturday’s conformation was one of the highest number of confirmed
cases in a single day. He added that among the cases, one was reported from
Central River Region (CRR), which is the first confirmed case from that region.
He said one is linked with the case number 12 and three were close contacts of
the 11th case.
“All
the confirmed cases were quarantined and now moved to the treatment center.
Only one of the confirmed cases is symptomatic and out of the 28 test samples
received, five were positive for covid-19, two were probable cases and 21 were
negative. The two probable cases will be resampled and tested in two to three
days to conclusively determine their status.”
He
continued that both probable cases are also linked to the 12th case, adding
that no new person was taken into quarantine; two were discharged after testing
negative for covid-19 upon completion of their quarantine period.
“One
hundred and one (101) low risk contacts have been regularly followed up to
ascertain manifestation of signs and symptoms of covid-19.”
Dr.
Bittaye stated that the country currently has 72 people under quarantine, seven
active cases and two probable cases.
“A
total of 555 tests were conducted and 17 are positive. Three-hundred and
sixteen (316) completed quarantine, 690 contacts traced and 310 completed
follow up.”
With
the five new cases, four are male and one female. Among the male cases, one is
a Senegalese of 35 years, while the rest are 22 year-old female Gambian, 7
year-old boy, 31 year-old man and 21 year-old man. He divulged.