Gambian President Adama Barrow on Wednesday declared a state of emergency in the country, with all borders and airspace made to shut down amid a rise in coronavirus cases, reported Anadolu Agency.
The Gambian government has also imposed a night curfew from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. starting Thursday until Aug. 26, the same time the state of emergency is expected to last. All houses of worship, schools have also been shut down. Grocery stores, markets, banks and all essential businesses will continue to remain open. Only persons on official COVID-19 duties, ambulances and public officials on essential assignments are exempted.
“All land, sea and air borders of Gambia remain closed. Entry and exit of persons into Gambia is suspended except for diplomats, drivers of [vehicles carrying] essential commodities and persons seeking urgent medical attention abroad,” a statement from the Presidency read.
Notably, only cargo and humanitarian flights that are being used to bring Gambians home, diplomats, or humanitarian workers will be allowed to land, that too subject to them seeking and obtaining prior approvals among other stringent conditions.
The statement said that any passenger entering Gambia would be required to have a valid certificate from points of departure indicating that the person has undergone a COVID-19 test with a negative result at least 72 hours before boarding. Anyone found breaching the regulation on the border closures commits an offence and will be liable upon conviction to a fine of Five Thousand Gambian Dalasi.
The state of emergency was declared after the Gambian health ministry data showed coronavirus cases have surged over 60% in the last seven days to nearly 800 cases.
The health authorities attributed the rise to people relaxing their guard on protective measures that had so far kept Gambia’s case total the lowest in Africa. Testing has also increased in the country, where the number of deaths is 16.
