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2020 coronavirus pandemic in Senegal | |
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Disease | COVID-19 |
Virus strain | SARS-CoV-2 |
Location | Senegal |
First outbreak | France |
Index case | Dakar |
Arrival date | 2 March 2020 (1 month) |
Confirmed cases | 195[1] |
Recovered | 45 |
Deaths | 1 |
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic was confirmed to have reached Senegal on March 2, 2020.
On 2 March 2020, a 54-year-old man from France was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Senegal,[2] living in the Almadies Arrondissement of Dakar, having been tested positive at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar.[2] He had travelled on Air Senegal on 29 February 2020.[2] Senegal became the second Sub-Saharan country to report confirmed cases after Nigeria.
The second confirmed case of COVID-19 was a French expat who came to Dakar from France. They are quoted as being in a "comfortable" condition.[3]
By 4 March 2020, the number of cases rose to four, with both cases being foreign nationals.[4] The first case was the wife of the first case in Senegal, who arrived in the country on 19 February. The other case was a Briton from London, who came to Senegal on 24 February.[citation needed]
Basketball Africa League postponed the start of their inaugural season on 6 March 2020, which would have taken place in Dakar.[5] This came as fear mounted over religious events and travel, especially those related to the Grand Magal, a Mouride festivity which occurs in Touba.[6]
On 10 March, Senegalese Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr told local press that the government would call off religious events if advised to do so. On the same day, a Senegalese national returning from Italy confirmed positive, becoming the fifth case in the country.[7]
On 12 March 2020, five more cases were announced in Senegal, which were family members of a confirmed case of the Senegalese national returning from Italy.[8] One of the victims was in the holy city of Touba, despite many people being convinced by clerics that they were immune to the coronavirus.[9]
As of 15 March, there were 24 confirmed cases in Senegal.[10] Senegal imposed travel restrictions, banned cruise ships, and closed schools for three weeks in response to the coronavirus. They also banned public gatherings for a month, including Muslim and Christian pilgrimages.[11]
On 23 March, Senegal declared a state of emergency.[12]