COVID-19: Senegalese head of state revamps health emergency measures

12 Mai 2020

Dakar, Senegal, May 12 (Infosplusgabon) - Senegalese President  Macky Sall has with effect from Tuesday eased restrictive measures taken to combat the coronavirus.

The president late Monday announced new hours for the curfew, market opening days and the reopening of places of worship, among others.

"Curfew times will be from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. instead of 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Office hours will be adjusted from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.". Markets and other businesses that used to have special opening days will be open for six days and will be closed on a day dedicated to cleaning," he said.

As for places of worship, they will be reopened after consultation between the interior minister, in connection with his counterpart of Health and Social Action, religious guides, and religious associations to agree on conditions and modalities to be implemented.

The president had decided a few days ago to gradually resume classes from 2 June for examinations, a measure which concerns 551,000 pupils.

In his message to the nation, the fourth devoted to COVID-19, he said 10 million locally produced masks will be distributed free of charge in public places, such as markets, places of worship, schools, and public transportation.

"I urge each and every one of us to avoid the stigmatization of patients. Such stigmatization is not acceptable. COVID-19 is not one of those so-called shameful diseases. In fact, no one is immune to such a contagious virus. Let everyone adopt a dignified and responsible attitude towards their fellow man," said the Senegalese Head of State.

He also announced the possibility of repatriating the bodies of Senegalese who have died abroad in accordance with the required sanitary conditions.

President Sall stressed that he had taken the new measures after consultations with a multidisciplinary team of "eminent national experts".

"It emerges from their careful analysis and evaluation that in the best case, that is to say, if we continue to apply the measures enacted, COVID-19 will continue to circulate in the country until August or even September. These projections show that now is not the time to relax, but to adapt," he added.

According to him, the State will continue to ensure the application of quota measures to curb the spread of the pandemic.

"More than ever, the responsibility of each and every one of us is engaged. In this new phase, which will last not a few weeks but at least three to four months, we must now learn to live in the presence of the virus by adapting our individual and collective behaviour to the evolution of the pandemic," he said.

FIN/ INFOSPLUSGABON/GVB/GABON2020

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