By Ndey Sowe
Dr. Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, the Minister of Health on Tuesday March 31st said a total number of two hundred and forty-seven persons have been placed on mandatory quarantine, with one hundred and sixty-eight contacts traced and actively followed up.
This information came during a daily press briefing on the current situation of the Coronavirus in the Gambia, held at his Ministry in Banjul.
“As a country, a total of 97 laboratory tests have been conducted to date. Out of this, ninety-seven were negative, four were positive and one was a probable case. The country has a total of four COVID-19 confirmed cases and one probable case,’’ he said.
Dr. Samateh said fourteen samples were tested and they all came out negative; that out of these, two were repeat tests conducted on the first case and the third case currently on admission; that both cases will have to be re-tested in about 1-2 days for confirmation of recovery.
According to Health Minister Samateh, for a confirmed case to be declared as recovered, there should be two consecutive negative tests.
“Samples have been collected from the five people who completed their quarantine period and the decision on their release from the quarantine facilities would depend on laboratory results,” he said; that samples have also been collected from two quarantined individuals who manifested symptoms similar to those of COVID-19 confirmed cases and one probable case; that two of the confirmed cases are currently receiving treatment at the MRC Gambia’s Medical Facility, whereas the latest confirmed case is receiving treatment at the Government’s main treatment center. Dr. Samateh averred that all three cases are responding to treatment both clinically and psychologically.
