By Ndey Sowe
Four Senegalese who sneaked into the country are under mandatory quarantine.
Dr. Mustahpa Bittaye, the Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health on Saturday 18th April, confirmed that 4 additional people have been taken into quarantine and all of them are Senegalese nationals who sneaked into the country.
Dr.Bittaye said this during the regular press briefing on the current situation report on COVID_19 in the Gambia, convened by health officials at the Ministry of Health in Banjul.
“Twenty three laboratory samples have been collected for processing”, he said, adding currently the country has 76 people under quarantine and 6 active cases.
He explained that a total of 316 tests were conducted and 9 were positive, 254 people completed quarantine, 241 contacts were traced, and 310 people completed follow-ups.
He added that there have been daily coordination and meetings ongoing at both strategic and technical levels.
In regards to the Ministry of Health next steps, Dr.Bittaye said they will deploy newly hired health personnel, and that there will be a duty station.
He disclosed that his ministry will follow up and provide continued psychosocial support to affected communities, persons under quarantine and treatment as well as those who have been discharged from both the quarantine and treatment center.
He said the Ministry will also continue to test people under quarantine before discharging them.
“We will continue daily follow-ups of low risk contacts and those discharged from quarantine “, he said.
Dr.Bittaye said: “The Ministry of health will provide security in the homes of all persons currently quarantined, finalise and distribute treatment guidelines and distribute donated motorbikes to field workers to be able to facilitate contact tracing.”
The health expert dispelled rumors circulating on social media on the procurement of “Condoms” by the Ministry of health. Bittaye assured the public that the national COVID_19 plan is comprehensive and does not include only materials that would be bought by government, but also those to be given by other partners.
Dr.Bittaye appealed to the public to adhere to the state of emergency regulations. He also commended all communities that established and supported the work of vigilantes in tackling people entering the Gambia from outside and along the border.
