By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia government has started relaxing coronavirus restrictions after nearly three months of declaration of State of Public Emergency to curb the spread of the pandemic in the country.
It is the first announcement of relaxation measure from the government since the emergence of the virus in March.
The relaxation allows worship places to start functioning as Friday’s congregational prayers would resume on this coming Friday as well as Church services resume on Sunday.
Both essential and non-essential businesses are to operate simultaneously, but weekly markets days remains banned.
It also allows grade 9 students to resume classes.
Spokesman of Barrow’s administration, Ebrima G Sankareh stated that “conscious of all these development, today, President Barrow in consultation with his cabinet and the Ministry of Health experts and other stakeholders have decided to actually relax some of these restrictions.”
“Therefore, effective immediately, all Gambian markets shall now open from 6:00am—6:00pm daily regardless of what commodities are sold. However, all market vendors, traders, buyers and sellers are strictly urged to continue to observe all the social distancing restrictions imposed by The Health Emergency Proclamation.”
Equally, all Grade-9 students will benefit from the relaxation of these restrictions to be formally announced by the Ministry of Basic & Secondary Education at a later date.
But Mr Sankareh said: “however, the relaxation of these measures, also come with very strict measures.”