2020 coronavirus pandemic in Senegal
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| 2020 coronavirus pandemic in Senegal | |
|---|---|
| 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.
Timeline
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]
References
- ^ "Coronavirus Update (Live): 434,643 Cases and 19,604 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Outbreak - Worldometer". www.worldometers.info. Retrieved 2 April 2020.
- ^ a b c "Coronavirus : Le Sénégal enregistre son premier cas". Le Quotidien (in French). 2 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "Second case of coronavirus in Senegal as African sports shelved". RFI. 5 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Senegal confirms third and fourth coronavirus cases". Reuters. 4 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Basketball Africa League postpones start of inaugural season". NBA.com (Press release). 3 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ Paquette, Danielle & Tall, Borso (6 March 2020). "Coronavirus fears rise in Senegal as thousands travel for religious festivals". The Washington Post. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Senegal confirms fifth case of COVID-19". aa.com.tr. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Senegal announces 5 new coronavirus cases". News24. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Coronavirus hits Senegal's holy city as cleric declares faithful are immune". Africanews. 12 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Senegal orders all schools closed in response to coronavirus". Reuters. 14 March 2020. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ Magome, Mogomot Si (15 March 2020). "Several African nations roll out measures to fight virus". Yahoo News. Associated Press. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
- ^ "Ivory Coast, Senegal declare emergencies, impose curfews in coronavirus response". Reuters. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
