United States Centre for Disease Control (CDC) has issued a Level One (1) Travel Health Notice for The Gambia in its recent global risk assessment level for COVID-19, the Gambian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad announced Thursday.
According to a statement made available, the Level One (1) tier is the lowest risk level of the four (4)-tier risk levels, with four (4) being the highest.
The statement revealed that based on the Level One (1) Travel Health Notice, the US Centre for Disease Control has advised US citizens who are visiting or planning to visit The Gambia to exercise normal precautions while in The Gambia.
The US Centre for Disease Control had initially issued The Gambia with a Level Three (3) notice in August 2020, under which US citizens were advised to reconsider their travel to The Gambia.
The Centre periodically ranks countries at various COVID-19 risk levels based on new COVID-19 infection numbers, and hospitalisation statistics, among other things.
The statement noted that during the reclassification of 7 June 2021, 60 countries were at Level 4 – very high risk, 64 countries at Level 3 – high risk, 21 countries at Level 2 – moderate risk and 52 countries at Level 1 – lower risk.
The statement pointed out that in the light of the foregoing, the government of The Gambia commended the Ministry of Health and all the healthcare workers for their professionalism and sacrifice in mitigating the pandemic.
It also registered its gratitude to the general public for being vigilant and adhering to safety protocols.
The government of The Gambia also commended its international partners for the continued support and assistance in containing the pandemic.
“It noted that this pandemic poses a real threat to lives and livelihoods and therefore, we must remain vigilant and continue to abide by public health protocols,” the statement said.