CTV Africa

The Deputy director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has today in a daily press briefing with regards to Covid-19 stated that after conducting 24 tests, one came positive, saying the country is currently having two active cases. In a briefing held in Banjul, Dr. Bittaye further indicated that the new case came to the country the 26 of April and spends the night at Farafanni, where a call was made through the toll free number to collect him. “He was later picked the 28 day of April and taken to quarantine, which he later tested positive. We are doing efforts to quarantine those he spent the night with and traced the people he joined the same car with.” Dr. said 10 new people have been taken into quarantine and four of whom where close contact of the newly confirmed case. “Two additional contacts have been traced, making it a total of 101 people been followed up. The newly confirmed case is imported and we therefore call on the security personals,...

VENUE: MCCARTHY SQUARE Fellow Gambians, Residents of The Gambia, There is growing concern that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in The Gambia has increased to ten. This is more than double the number since my last address to the nation.  Globally, as at today , 2 6 th Apri l 2020, there have been over 2. 7 million confirmed cases and over a hundred and ninety thousand recorded deaths, and we are still counting.   De...

Dr. Momodou Tangara, the minister of Foreign Affairs has recently disclosed to parliamentarians that as a result of the intensity and rapidity of the spread of Covid-19, his Ministry is currently engaging its mission in Washington to appeal to the US authorities based on humanitarian grounds for Gambians who are under the custody of the Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) of the United States of America to be temporarily released until such time the threat of Covid-19 has been substantially reduced. “Our Mission in Washington has also designated Honorary Consul in States that have significant amount of Gambians in the U.S to serve as liaison between the communities and the Embassy. However, we wish to regrettably inform you that two adult female Gambians succumbed to the Covid-19 in USA.” The minister stated that in North Carolina few Gambians caught the virus but certainly with mild symptoms and has fully recovered. He added that in New York, t...

After haven confirmed a total number of 10 infected cases of coronavirus in the country, the Deputy Director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has today in a press briefing disclosed that four patients have been treated and set for discharge. After a cumulative of six patients gained their normal health and free from Covid-19 disease, The Gambia has now left with only three active cases. Dr. Bittaye stated that six-laboratory report received and all tested negative for suspected Covid-19. “Of these results, four are repeat test of the active cases. This second test negative results, for each of the four patients are indicative of recovery from Covid-19 and mean that they are set for discharge,” he stated.

The acting Director of Health Services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has today in a press briefing told journalists that they have traced 71 contacts of newly confirmed cases. Dr. Bittaye added that 29 laboratory samples have been collected and send for processing. He added that second confinement of donated laboratory consumable from jack ma foundation has been received. “Samples for the repeat test for the six of the active cases will be taking for testing to ascertain recovery status.” He explained that five people have been discharged from quarantine upon completion of their mandatory quarantine and testing, affirming that they tested negative before released. “A total of 71 contacts of newly confirmed cases have been traced. Currently the country has 90 people under quarantine and seven active cases and there is no probable case. A total of 332 tests were conducted and 10 were positive. 261 people completed quarantine, 373 contacts traced a...

Munyagen Development Foundation, a local charity over the weekend donated over D300,000 worth of food and non-food items to Munyagen Village in Jokadu in the North Bank Region. The items, which includes- 166 bags of rice, 40 bags of sugar and sanitizers, is designed to enhance and strengthen community’s quest to stem the spread of Covid-19 in the country. At the distribution ceremony, Ebrima K. Dampha, governor of the region, expressed delight to be associated with the move championed by natives of Munyagen both in-country and in the Diaspora, adding the amount spent on the items could have been used on other needs.  The move, he said, demonstrate their love and resolve to assist their community in these trying moments. "I want to applaud the people of Munyagen, Kerr Omar Saine and Kerr Jarga Jobe for the support they are rendering to their communities. I thus urged people of the other communities to follow these communities in terms community development. The...

Gambia National Fundraiser for COVID-19, a humanitarian Project aimed at providing food to Gambians that are not able to get food due to the emergency lockdown measures, has continue to strengthens support to underprivileged Gambians. The organization is formed by a group of leading Gambian fundraisers that has teamed up to raise funds both at home and abroad for the underprivileged in The Gambia. The team vows that they will continue to serve the nation, while thanked Essa Faal for his commitment to supporting the initiative. The lead counsel of the TRRC Essa Faal stated “I will do anything for our nation. He however donated D75, 000 and logistics support to National Fundraising team and joined the team on the ground at the crucial time to help the needy. The organization clarified that the funds raised will be used to buy basic food items, basic hygiene items, while indicating that they will never give the donated money to any local or ce...

The deputy director of health services Dr. Mustapha Bittaye has today in a press briefing informed press officers that five-laboratory new test results for suspected COVID-19 received from the MRC are all negative. Dr. Bittaye stated that five additional individuals are taken to quarantine, saying among the newly quarantines, four snitch into the country and one was close contact to one of the recent confirmed case. “Currently the country has six active cases and one probable case. Globally since 31 December 2019 to 14 April 2020, a total of two million four thousand nine hundred and ninety one cases of COVID-19 have been reported. 126, 830 deaths were registered and 485, 830 recovered.” He added that Senegal has recorded 299 confirmed cases, 183 recovery and two deaths. He confirmed that they are currently having 61 people on quarantine in one of the hotels within the greater Banjul area, while adding that a total of 298 suspected cases were tested and ni...

Across the world actors are self isolating. And for sensitive, creative people like us, this is tough. However, for me this whole situation has made me really think deeply about what I want to do with my life. It has reignited my passion, and made me realise how much I love acting. I have been reading more than ever and learning monologues. I started writing a list of a few things to work on during this difficult time. So here are 37 things you can do during isolation: Read a play (or many) Watch a bunch of great films (especially ones that push you outside of your comfort zone) Binge some great TV Binge some awful TV (we learn as much from rubbish) Beef up your vocabulary (get up every morning and investigate some new words) Work on an accent. Finish writing that short film! Finish writing that feature film, TV show, or web series (you know the one you tell people you are working on at every party.) Do a daily voice warm up. Do a daily physical/movement warm up....

The secretary general and party leader of The Gambia Moral Congress (GMC) party Mai Ahmad Fatty has in a statement on his Facebook page indicated that he is disappointed on the recent state of emergency debate, although most parliamentarians acknowledged the need to provide a relief package to thousands of poor and vulnerable families, no such resolution was made.  “We had advocated for a 21 to 30 days extension instead of the 90 days proposed by the State and the National Assembly settled for 45.”  The politician said they would monitor very closely if any attempts would be made to manipulate the law for political purposes under the pretext of a public emergency.  He said that they would dissect the regulations on the an vil of appropriate legal tests, and more importantly the manner of execution of those regulations, adding they will resist the politicization of the impact of the regulations to score political points.  “I ...

The acting Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health Dr. Mustapha Bettaye has on Saturday told the press that a total of 16 new samples for suspected COVID-19 cases were taken and tested on Friday but all came out negative. He said the results included the repeated test of the probable case, adding there is no more probable case in the country. The Gambia registered four coronavirus cases with one death, two completely recovered and one active case. He continued that 116 individuals completed their 14-day mandatory quarantine and they were discharged leaving 162 people who are yet to complete their quarantine period.   “Five foreign nationals who recently came into the country were apprehended and place in quarantine. All the four confirmed cases were imported and there is yet to be any evident of the local transmission.” “At least 129 laboratory test have been conducted and we have seen a significant reduction in the vo...

The confidence  of Gambians is getting lower by the day as the occupier of the  State House  is far  from meeting the aspirations of Gambians. In a crisis we expect leaders to make  far-reaching decisions to wire down the danger of their people. Since the advent of this Corona Virus a choice was in our hands to choose from and the Barrow-led government has surely failed to take  the best decision to salvage the country from the deadly pandemic. The copy-and-paste system can no   longer be accepted , as the political reality of our country cannot be matched with anyone. We have a situation at hand that requires the urgent  attention of the president to take  unique decisions to safeguard the country's interest. Mr. President, your subjects are far from realizing the struggle for the change and with your national address it has put many families  in jeopardy  as you are well aware that the majority of your people liv...

Prison spokesman Modou Lamin Ceesay has confirmed that The Gambia Prison Service has launched a massive manhunt after 21 people escaped from Jeshwang prison. In August 2018, a total number of 23 prisoners have reportedly escaped during a major prison break at the remand wing of the Jeshwang Prison, where eight prison officers that were on duties had been arrested in connection with the matter. According to The Fatu Network, the Prison spokesman Modou Lamin Ceesay confirmed last week’s jailbreak, saying is true but it is not a jailbreak because jailbreak involves a high number of prisoners. He said it was just one cell out of the lot.   “The officers failed in their coordination and the prisoners putting the officers’ strength into consideration took advantage of the situation while the cells were opened by the afternoon duties officers.” He added that the number of prisoners that attempted to escape was 29, while the prison officers were...

Ms Amie Jarjue who has rightly earned her name as “The Mother Theresa of The Gambia” and initiated a “National Fund Raiser” to buy essential foodstuffs for the needy families in The Gambia in an effort to keep them home and combat the spreading of COVID-19, told CTV Africa that the team national fundraising for COVID-19  have so far raised over US$6, 000 dollars. Jarjue who believed that is important to surround ourselves with family and friends for support and comfort in both times of joy and distress, said the great national initiative was also coordinated by Babou Njie Sallah and Sai Touray among other people. In a bid to help ease burden on families at home as poverty hovers in the wake of the crisis, she thought it meaningful to contribute her quarters to the development of its country.  “I called on Gambians to come together collectively and fight the global pandemic (COVID-19) because individuals cannot do it. I think it wise to help my country because I kne...

Mc Cham Junior, National Youth President of The Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC) party has today informed this medium that more than four weeks state of emergency can be detrimental to the lives of the majority Gambians. He explained that while President Adama Barrow's administration and all the public and private organisation, communities and individuals in The Gambia and abroad are working hard to eradicate the coronavirus, The Gambia government need to pay attention to the majority poor Gambians, who live on daily earnings when all business and means of earnings are closed due to the state of emergency declared by the President on the 27th March, 2020 in accordance with section 34 of the 1997 Constitution.  “The State may seek to further extend the lock down with approval of the National Assembly in accordance with section 35, but must remember that the country was not in a state of reasonable welfare system on living conditions that, more than four weeks...