Fatou
B.S. Manneh, the governor of Upper River Region (URR) has yesterday in a
statement indicated that strategies have been discussed as to how they will put
the whole compound and village on quarantine, as man tested positive for
covid-19 at Numuyel village.
She
explained that a 71-year-old man from France who came to The Gambia on 17 March
2020 had reported to Numuyel Health Post on 21 March at around 3 a.m.
“Relevant
stakeholders were informed and a sample was collected the same day around 20:00
p.m., the result of which tested positive for coronavirus and communicated to
RHD yesterday around 18:00 p.m.”
She
added that health authorities and security forces were deployed to the
community for the safe evacuation of the patient, while other family members
were equally controlled in the compound for at least 14 day of quarantine.
“My
office has a job to do, we appeal to all communities in URR that, this is not
an affront to their privacy but to help curb this pandemic in the area, so that
necessary measures can be taken.”
She
affirmed that her region would continue to work with the community to ensure
the safety of the general populace.
Meanwhile,
health authorities in a Tuesday’s press briefing confirmed that the 71-year-old
had returned from France arriving in The Gambia on 17 March 2020 at 13:31 hours
by TUI Arkefly (TFL458); and travelled to Numuyel. He was together with 58
passengers onboard the flight.
Modou
Njai, the director of Health Promotion and Education said manifestation of
symptoms began on 20 March 2020. He was first reported to the OPD of Basse
District Hospital with symptoms such as abdominal and chest pain in the early
hours of 21 March 2020 and was escorted to the hospital by two escorts who
brought him on a motorcycle but initially resisted sample collection.
“Sample
was collected on 21 March after the intervention of the Police Intervention
Unit (PIU) and later the sample sent to MRCG at Fajara for testing on 22 March.
Positive test result received on Monday 23 March,” he added.
