Eight Gambians attempting to illegally enter the country by car were intercepted at a border crossing in the Upper River Region (URR), the Health minister has said 

Dr Ahmadou Lamin Samateh told reporters, at the daily press conference on the country’s response to the Covid-19 coronavirus crisis, that the eight Gambians had travelled from Sierra Leone by car and were intercepted as they attempted to breach the border closure. 

He said the group is in quarantine in line with the 14 mandatory quarantine for anyone entering the country.

The Health minister warned people who were “still making illegal entry into the country” by evading border guards and immigration officials that they would be arrested. The Gambia government last week closed it borders with Senegal for 21 days to stop the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.

“It has come to our notice that a lot of people used fishing boats and other boats to evade immigration officials and border posts and come through to the Gambia through illegal entry point. We urge our citizens to be vigilant in protecting the Gambian borders and to report anyone who enters illegally,” Dr Samateh said.

“A single case of unreported case can cause disaster for our community when they are not detected on time. People should not enter our villages and towns without being authorised to do so. Any suspected cases should be reported to the authorities for necessary action. 

“Our collective efforts will enhance the containtment of the covid 19 coronavirus in The Gambia.”

Meanwhile the Health minister confirmed that 14 tests were conducted yesterday “all of which came out negative. Two were repeat tests on the first case and third case (respectively).”

He said 97 tests have been conducted so far(92 test were negative, 4 test were positive and one was a probable case).

“All 3 positive patients are positively responding to treatment both physically and psychologically at MRC and the Government Treatment Centre. 

Dr Samateh said 247 persons are in quarantine and “168 people were being traced and actively followed up”.