Gambia Opens land Borders, Night Clubs As COVID-19 Cases Lessen

Gambia opens its land and sea borders and relaxes restrictions on all nightclubs and casinos throughout the country after five months with immediately effect, according to the government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh in a press release.

The release states that “due to the ongoing reconstruction and modernization of the Banjul International Airport (BIA) and consistent with stringent international aviation best practices, the BIA is expected to resume full scale operations by the 31? October, 2020.”

“Equally, based on the technical advice of the Covid-19 and National Health Emergency Committees and subject to the specified guidelines of The Public Health (Dangerous infectious Diseases) Protection Regulations, 2020, President Barrow hereby relaxes the restrictions governing night clubs and casinos throughout The Gambia” the release concludes.

Government ordered closure of airport, land borders and all nightclubs in May after the outbreak of COVID-19 to protect the Gambian people from the devastating impact of the COVID-19.

The closure of The Gambia’s land borders and air space had a significant negative impact on trade and business in country. Wholesale and retail trade accounts for about 33 percent of GDP and a significant negative shock on the country’s growth outlook in 2020 and beyond, According to UNDP report on the negative impact of COVID-19 on trade.