The Government of The Gambia (GoTG) has declared a new State of Public Emergency effective 5th of August with a curfew from 10pm to 6am effective 6th of August 2020 for 21 days.
This is a temporary measure in response to the recent high increasement of COVID-19 cases/infections in The Gambia.
Under this declaration, the following regulations are in effect:
- Nightly curfew between the hours of 22:00 and 05:00.
- All houses of worship shall remain closed.
- All educational institutions shall remain closed.
- All non-food outlets in all markets shall remain closed, with exception of banks, pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets, mini-markets, local corner shops, and essential food traders.
- Markets may be open between 06:00 and 14:00 daily, though all markets and shopping areas shall be closed on Sundays for fumigation and sanitization purposes.
- Land, sea, and air borders remain officially closed. Under the current State of Public Emergency, entry and exit of persons into The Gambia is suspended, except for diplomats, drivers of essential commodities, and persons seeking urgent medical attention abroad.
- Flights into The Gambia may be permitted only to transport Gambians returning to The Gambia, diplomats, and humanitarian workers.
- Any passenger, as noted above, seeking entry to The Gambia must be in possession of a valid certificate from point of departure indicating a negative COVID-19 test at least 72 hours before boarding.
- Mandatory quarantine for all arrivals into The Gambia remains in effect.
Additionally, the Gambian government previously announced new temporary measures aimed at preventing the spread of COVID-19, effective from July 30 for 90 days:
- Mandatory wearing of face masks in public places;
- Temporary closure of non-essential public places; and
- Prohibition of public and social gatherings
If you have questions on how the COVID19 crisis is affecting the Gambian economy, your business and how the Chamber can assist you. Contact the BLGCC on info@blgcc.be
Press-Release State House of The Gambia:
In exercise of the powers vested in him by Section 34 (1) (a) and pursuant to Section 34 (2) of the 1997 Constitution, President Adama Barrow declares a State of Public Emergency effective midnight tonight and a curfew effective tomorrow, 6th August 2020 throughout The Gambia for a period of 21 days.
The Public Health (Dangerous Infectious Diseases) Protection Regulations, 2020 shall continue to operate side by side with these new accompanying Regulations:
➡️All houses of worship (mosques, churches, etc.,) shall remain closed. Mosques or churches shall be used solely for calls to prayers or religious announcements. All forms of gatherings at mosques and churches are prohibited;
➡️Night curfew is hereby imposed throughout the jurisdiction of The Gambia from 10pm to 5am daily. Only persons on official COVID-19 duties, ambulances and public officials on essential assignments are exempted from the curfew. Anyone who violates the curfew commits an offence and is liable to a fine of Five Thousand Gambian Dalasi (D5,000).
➡️All educational institutions (Universities, Colleges, Schools, Madrassas, Daras, Majalis and Gamos) shall remain closed. However, Grade 12 students are exempted only for the period of their WAEC/WASSCE exams from 17th August to the 7th September 2020. These schools shall open solely for the purpose of administering exit exams;
➡️All non-food outlets in all markets throughout The Gambia shall remain closed. Exemptions are granted to banks and financial institutions, pharmacies, drug stores, supermarkets and mini markets, local corner shops and essential food traders. The markets shall be opened between 6am and 2pm daily;
➡️All markets and shopping areas in The Gambia shall be closed on Sundays for cleansing or necessary fumigation by Area and Municipal Councils;
➡️All land, sea and air borders of The Gambia remain closed. Entry and exit of persons into The Gambia is suspended except for diplomats, drivers of essential commodities and persons seeking urgent medical attention abroad;
➡️Only cargo and humanitarian flights bringing Gambians home, diplomats or humanitarian workers will be allowed subject to them seeking and obtaining prior approvals among other stringent conditions. Any passenger destined for The Gambia shall be in possession of a valid certificate from points of departure indicating that he or she took a COVID-19 test with a negative result at least 72 hours before boarding. A person who breaches this Regulation on the border closures commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine of Five Thousand Gambian Dalasi (D5,000);
➡️The Armed Forces may be deployed pursuant to Section 187(1)(b) of the Constitution of The Gambia to support the civil authorities in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president calls on the general public to remain vigilant and committed to the fight against the coronavirus.
Credit State House of The Gambia, US Embassy in The Gambia
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