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HEALTH-VIRUS-GAMBIA
Gambia threatens to name and shame Covid rule-breakers
DAKAR, Jan 27, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – The Gambia’s health ministry has threatened
to publicly name Covid cases who flout health rules, warning of “drastic
consequences” for virus miscreants.
Between January 20 and 25, 40 people who had tested positive for
coronavirus either absconded from treatment centres or refused to go into
isolation, the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. Travellers arriving
in the tiny West African state have also evaded health controls.
The ministry urged the rule-breakers to report to the country’s health
services, warning that it would publish their identities otherwise.
“Anyone found not willing to cooperate with COVID-19 regulations will have
their names and identifying information published on the media and
thereafter, drastic measures will be taken against anyone that is non-
compliant,” the ministry said.
A former British colony of some two million people, The Gambia is the
smallest country on mainland Africa.
Health officials in the poor nation have officially recorded 4,102
coronavirus cases to date, with over 125 fatalities.
The Gambia has struggled to enforce Covid rules before. In March, 14
travellers escaped from a hotel in the capital Banjul, where they had been
quarantined as a precaution.
BSS/AFP/IJ/1912 hrs