By Ndey Sowe
The Gambia Government is to suspend all foreign trawlers from entering Gambian waters.
All foreign vessels with valid licenses will be suspended from operating in the Gambian waters.
This was revealed at the Ministry of Health regular press briefing on the current situation of the COVID-19 in The Gambia, held at The Quadrangle in Banjul.
Mustapha Bittaye, the Acting Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health told journalists at the press briefing that a total of 6 new laboratory test results received from the MRC The Gambia and a repeat test on one of the probable cases and her close contacts were all negative and both of them will have to complete the mandatory quarantine period.
“For laboratory and surveillance, a repeat test on one of the probable cases and her close contact were negative and both of them will have to complete the mandatory quarantine period”, he said.
He added that that Western 1 and 2 health regions continue to register the highest number of calls to the 1025 too-free hotline.
He explained that of the four additional people taken into quarantine, 3 were close contacts of the recently confirmed cases and 1 is a Senegalese national who has been evading quarantine after sneaking into the country.
“We have 56 people under quarantine in one of the hotels in the Greater Banjul Area and a total of 293 tests were conducted and 9 were positive, 211 test results were negative and the fourth case is still on admission and responding to treatment”, he disclosed.
He stated that 254 people completed quarantine, 2400 contacts have been traced and 310 people completed follow-ups.
He said 150 hospital beds has been received from an NGO for distribution at the treatment centers and will provide regular psychosocial support to health workers and people in quarantine.
He saluted communities for initiating community Covis-19 monitoring structures and urged all communities in the country to embrace and establish such in the fight against the virus.
“Community participation and involvement in COVID-19 intervention is essential”, he pleaded, adding that together we can fight against COVID-19 in the Gambia.
