Governments of both Adama Barrow and Macky Sall have agreed to shut borders linking them as coronavirus threatens to wreak havoc on the Senegambia region.
The pandemic is on the surge in Senegal while Gambia have confirmed just one positive case as dozens remain under 14-day confinement.
And aware of the global death toll soaring, Sall and Barrow resolved its best borders linking them are temporarily closed.
However, the decision lasting for just 21 days commencing March 23rd 2020 midnight, will not affect movement of security personnel, foodstuff, medical services, related items and equipment between the two countries.
“The decision of the closure of the border was taken considering the rapid spread of COVID -19 in the world and in our region, and the continuous movement of people posing high risk of contracting the disease.
” The Government of the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal have mutually agreed to close their border for a period of 21 days in the bid to contain the Coronavirus (COVID-19),” part of a release from Gambia’s presidency, released minutes ago revealed.
Gambia got hit by its first positive case of the covid-19 last Sunday after a UK-based 21-year-old woman flew into the country on board Royal Air Maroc flight.
Preliminary tests on her at the airport proved negative before she later turned herself in at the Medical Research Council after displaying symptoms of the pandemic despite self-isolating.
The nation’s army chief Yankuba Drammeh has also gone under self-isolation after news he boarded the same flight as Gambia’s first positive covid-19 patient.
