Gambia has recorded its first death from Coronavirus, according to the minister of health and social welfare Dr. Ahmad Lamin Samateh.
He said the deceased was a 70 year old Bangladesh national who died last Friday.
According to Dr. Samateh, the Bangladesh national, a preacher came to the Gambia through Senegal on the March 13, 2020.
He had travelled to six different countries preaching before finally arriving in the Gambia before his death.
The minister said the deceased “was said to be a known diabetic who presented at a health facility.
He was later referred to the Edward Francis smalls Teaching Hospital and he unfortunately passed away in the ambulance before arrival at the hospital on the 20th March, 2020.”
“A sample was collected from him, sent to MRC and the results were delivered today and was confirmed to be positive,” Dr. Samateh said on State TV GRTS.
The Minister advised those that had contact with the deceased to report themselves to the authorities for support.
On Friday Gambia’s government banned flights from thirteen countries after recording its first case of coronavirus.
The first case was a 21 year old Gambian citizen who tested positive for the Coronavirus two days after she arrived in Banjul from UK.
Flights from the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Poland, Germany and Sweden have been suspended.
The other countries affected include Denmark, Switzerland, Netherlands, Norway, Austria, Belgium and Portugal.
Since the first confirmed case of COVID-19, a total of 124 people have undergone quarantine,17 people absconded from the quarantine centers in different places, according to Dr Samateh.
“The ministry of health wishes to inform the public that currently we have 124 people in quarantine in different locations,17 people absconded and post a greater risk at spreading the virus to families and the general public,” he said.
The Minister urges those who absconded to report back to the quarantine centers immediately to avoid spreading the virus.
Source: Africafeeds.com
