By: Nyima Sillah
The Ministry of Health (MoH) has confirmed that three (3) pilgrims tested positive after a recently concluded mandatory COVID-19 test exercise on pilgrims, who returned from Saudi Arabia to the country, at the Banjul International Airport.
“Out of over one thousand seven hundred pilgrims, only 3 were tested positive but none of them were put under quarantine. They are currently with their families with no threat, and under the watch of public health officers,” Director of Public Health Services, Buba Manjang told The Voice.
He stated that the returned pilgrims who tested positive at The Gambia International Airport are advised to observe the following safety precautional measures to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus by “Maintain social distancing and wear masks always and should report to the nearest health facility if the need arises. If sick, they should be admitted to NdembanClinic for proper medical attention. Regularly wearing a mask that fully covers the nose and mouth.
Ensuring that your hands are clean when you put on and remove your mask. Avoid poorly ventilated or crowded spaces. Opening windows to improve ventilation indoors. Also, wash your hands regularly with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer.”
He, therefore, advised that “Widespread mask-wearing should be promoted as a “new normal” for the foreseeable future until viral spread is extremely low or vaccination creates sufficient immunity in the general population, reduce exposure to high-risk environments (e.g., crowded indoor gatherings) are also critical to limiting the spread of COVID-19 People should be encouraged to take the vaccines including the boosters