Gambia has confirmed its first case of the deadly coronavirus according to the Health minister.

The first confirmed case of coronavirus in The Gambia is that of a young woman in her 20s from the U.K. 

The woman who entered the country on Sunday via Banjul International airport tested positive for the virus after developing symptoms. She has been quarantined and receiving medical care at the Medical Research Council in Fajara. 

Health minister Dr Samateh said yesterday on state broadcaster GRTS:  “We would like to inform the public of a confirmed case of COVID-19 who is currently in isolation and receiving excellent medical care at the Medical Research Council clinic in Fajara.

“This is different from the two suspected cases from Indonesia that tested to be negative. This announcement marks the first case of COVID-19 in The Gambia. 

“This particular confirmed case is a lady in her 20s who returned to the country on Sunday from UK through the Banjul International Airport.

“A day after arrival, she started to have fever and decided to self-isolate at home. She reported to the MRC under isolation and was tested and was confirmed to be positive.

“The ministry of health in collaboration with the Medical Research Council has started the process of contact tracing and will endeavour to reach all contacts especially those in the same flight.”

On Tuesday President Adama Barrow announced the banning of all public gatherings and closed schools and universities as precautionary measures over the deadly coronavirus pandemic. 

Barrow in addressing the nation said:” realising how vulnerable people are during public gatherings, I hereby declare that all public gatherings are suspended henceforth.

“This suspension includes all international and local conferences, workshops and seminars to be hosted in The Gambia.

The new measures come days after neighbouring Senegal with reported cases of the coronavirus took similar actions.