Wednesday, 29 July | GunjurOnline
State House of the Republic of The Gambia has earlier today announced that the Vice President of the country has tested positive of the Coronavirus amid fears that the virus is spreading rapidly in the country. Consequently, the Gambian leader has gone into self isolatation for a period of two weeks as he may have been exposed to the virus himself.
This raises grave concerns in some quarters as the Eid-ul-Adha (Tobaski) looms. The prospect of the congregational prayers on Friday up and down the country heighten fears that more people could become infected with the virus as there is zero chance of any form of social distancing during the congregation.
In their National Situation Reports of the Coronavirus in the country, Gambian Health Ministry recommended total lockdown of the West Coast Region to prevent the rapid spread of the virus. West Coast Region could be the epicentre of COVID-19 in The Gambia with over five thousand “suspected” cases of out the 6422 “Suspected” cases countrywide, with 326 confirmed cases.
This begs the question: Will the government of The Gambia now enforce stringent measures through the Minister of Health by banning Eid Prayers on Friday around the country to protect the citizenry? Or will it be Western Region that gets locked down as it bears the largest number of “suspect” cases?
The next 48 hours are critical in The Gambia as far as the Coronavirus is concern. Saudi Arabia has cancelled the 2020 Hajj to protect her citizens, Gambia must act decisively to ensure that the deadly virus of COVID-19 does not cause havoc in the improvished nation with poor and inadequate health facilities.