COVID-19 pandemic in Senegal

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which was reported to the WHO on 31 December 2019.[2][3]

The case fatality ratio for COVID-19 has been much lower than SARS of 2003,[4][5] but the transmission has been significantly greater, with a significant total death toll.[6][4]

On 2 March 2020, a 54-year-old man from France was the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in Senegal,[7] living in the Almadies Arrondissement of Dakar, having been tested positive at the Pasteur Institute in Dakar.[7] He had travelled on Air Senegal on 29 February 2020.[7] 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.[8]

By 4 March, the number of cases rose to four, with both cases being foreign nationals.[9] 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.

Basketball Africa League postponed the start of their inaugural season on 6 March 2020, which would have taken place in Dakar.[10] This came as fear mounted over religious events and travel, especially those related to the Grand Magal, a Mouride festivity which occurs in Touba.[11]

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.[12]

On 12 March, five more cases were announced in Senegal, which were family members of a confirmed case of the Senegalese national returning from Italy.[13] 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.[14]

As of 15 March, there were 24 confirmed cases in Senegal.[15] 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.[16]

On 23 March, Senegal declared a state of emergency.[17]

Senegal experienced a 30% rise in COVID-19 infections on May 11[18] and eased restrictions on mosques and churches and relaxed the curfew on May 12.[18] Senegal has reported 1,886 coronavirus cases and 19 deaths.[18]