Mayor of Kanifing Municipality Council (KMC) has called on government to put more efforts in securing Gambia’s  borders in the fight against the deadly coronavirus. 

Mayor Talib Bensouda’s call comes two days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the deadly virus a global pandemic.

Mayor Bensouda said in a news conference on Friday: “The border should be secured as this is something that can affect any country if it (the virus) penetrates it.

“We hope the central government takes preventive measure of ensuring that Gambia is safe from the globally corona virus.”

The Barrow government however on Friday banned all overseas travel by public officials “as part of the efforts to curb the risks of spreading the coronavirus.”

Coronavirus which emerged in China last December has so far killed 5,000 people and half a million people are infected globally. 

The WHO has branded the 5,000 deaths worldwide from coronavirus a “tragic milestone”.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba