As part of ongoing efforts by the Gambian government to fight Covid-19, President Adama Barrow on Thursday approved Half-a-Billion dalasis emergency fund for response preparedness. the government has also suspended flights from 13 countries.
A significant amount of time, of what was a long cabinet session, chaired by President Adama Barrow, on Thursday, was spent discussing the situation of Covid-19 in the country since the first confirmed case was announced. This emergency fund announcement follows other measures declared by the President to control the spread of the virus.
Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, welcomes the move, describing it as timely. The Minister of Finance and ourselves are going to get together to make sure that our response is adequate and effective. We thank the president and the government for responding so swiftly for the resources for us to deal with this problem.
Cabinet also decided that, with immediate effect, all passengers from 47 identified countries, including the United States, must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine; while flights from the UK, Spain, France, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherland, Norway, Austria, Belgium and Portugal are suspended.
Minister Samateh says the move is in the interest of Gambians and incoming travellers. The passengers are reported to have complained about the poor condition of the place identified for their isolation and the fact that, allegedly, they were left unattended and unchecked by anyone.
The Health Minister says they have broken the law, adding they are being pursued and we will meet to see what steps we will take. Minister Samateh says Senegal is not among the countries affected by the flight suspension because they did not reach the level which can result to suspension and ant time they do they will be suspended.
On the confirmed case, he updated that the patient is stable and receiving supportive treatment at the Medical Research Council in Fajara.
BY: ALIEU CEESAY
A significant amount of time, of what was a long cabinet session, chaired by President Adama Barrow, on Thursday, was spent discussing the situation of Covid-19 in the country since the first confirmed case was announced. This emergency fund announcement follows other measures declared by the President to control the spread of the virus.
Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh, Minister of Health, welcomes the move, describing it as timely. The Minister of Finance and ourselves are going to get together to make sure that our response is adequate and effective. We thank the president and the government for responding so swiftly for the resources for us to deal with this problem.
Cabinet also decided that, with immediate effect, all passengers from 47 identified countries, including the United States, must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine; while flights from the UK, Spain, France, Poland, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Netherland, Norway, Austria, Belgium and Portugal are suspended.
Minister Samateh says the move is in the interest of Gambians and incoming travellers. The passengers are reported to have complained about the poor condition of the place identified for their isolation and the fact that, allegedly, they were left unattended and unchecked by anyone.
The Health Minister says they have broken the law, adding they are being pursued and we will meet to see what steps we will take. Minister Samateh says Senegal is not among the countries affected by the flight suspension because they did not reach the level which can result to suspension and ant time they do they will be suspended.
On the confirmed case, he updated that the patient is stable and receiving supportive treatment at the Medical Research Council in Fajara.
BY: ALIEU CEESAY