Gambia reported a 17% rise in coronavirus (COVID-19) cases on Thursday, its biggest ever daily jump; data from the health ministry showed. The ministry said 136 new infections were recorded, around 30% of which were health workers from two hospitals, taking the total number of cases to 935.
Mainland Africa’s smallest country imposed a three-week curfew and reintroduced a state of emergency on Wednesday after cases surged by 60% in one week.
On Wednesday, COVID-19 cases in Gambia surged over 60% to nearly 800 cases.
Authorities attributed the rise to people relaxing their guard on protective measures that had so far kept Gambia’s case total the lowest in Africa. Testing has also increased in the country, where the number of deaths is 16.
“There is increased enforcement of mask-wearing and other measures across the country,” government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh said.
According to the country’s government, three cabinet ministers tested positive for COVID-19, while health minister Ahmadou Lamin Samateh is in self-isolation.
Vice President Isatou Touray also tested positive on 29 July, leading President Adama Barrow to enter self-isolation.
The government said on Tuesday the president had tested negative.
Below is Africa’s latest COVID-19 stats:
![[File Image] Men wear protectives mask as they walk on a street in Adjame, area of Abidjan, Ivory Coast.](https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sabc-news-masker-R1-120x86.jpg)
