Senegalese leader, Macky Sall, on Saturday, took a series of drastic measures to fight the coronavirus.
“I have decided to ban for a period of 30 days all public demonstrations throughout the territory,” he said in a speech broadcast on the Senegalese Radio Broadcasting (RTS, public) at the end of an emergency meeting on the Covid-19 at the Presidential Palace.
President Sall, whose country officially has 22 cases of coronavirus, also announced the “suspension of teaching in schools (from primary to university) for a period of three weeks starting on Monday.”
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For the celebration of Independence Day scheduled for April 4, the usual military and civil parade will be replaced by a a simple parade at the presidential Palace.
In addition, the Head of State asked the government to strengthen the health personnel and launch systematic health checks at borders.
He also decided to temporarily suspend entry to the port of cruise ships and stop all formalities related to religious pilgrimages.
After the announcement of these presidential decisions, the Minister of the Interior, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye, issued an order banning demonstrations and rallies in Senegal, from March 14 to April 14 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. “All demonstrations and people gatherings in open or closed places are prohibited across the national territory, for reasons related to the spread of Covid-19,” the decree said
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For his part, the Minister of Sports, Matar Ba has suspended for one month all sporting events, while his colleague of Justice, Malick Sall has suspended for three weeks, all hearings in Senegalese courts and tribunals.
The Daaka in Medina Gounass (south), which opened on Saturday March 14, was canceled by the end of the afternoon. The General Ziarra of Tivaouane has also been postponed.
Senegal detected its first case of Covid-19 on March 2, 2020.
TE/Dng/id/fss/abj/APA