Coronavirus: President Barrow announces reopening of hotels, bars, restaurants, pools and gyms
Banjul, Gambia(PANA) - President Adama Barrow Wednesday announced the reopening of public places such as hotels, motels, lodges, bars, restaurants, video clubs, museums, public swimming pools and gymnasia throughout the country effective Thursday 15 October 2020.
A statement read on his behalf by government spokesperson Ebrima Sankareh of the state-run GRTS urged that all operators of the various businesses must ensure any employee who shows any symptom of coronavirus (COVID-19) or came into close contact with an infected person is excused from work.
Sankareh said: “Employees wash their hands with soap and water before, during, and after preparing food or after touching waste; materials used by a person are cleaned and disinfected before reuse by another person; employees use gloves when serving food or handling trash; hand cleansing hygiene materials are available at all times for use by employees and customers at the entrance; the maximum number or people allowed within the premises is limited to no more than two-third of the usual number, and restaurant owners and managers shall ensure that utensils and cutleries are disinfected and heated after every use.”
The government spokesperson said the police had been empowered to inspect premises without prior notice at any given time.
“Persons found at particular premises during inspection shall not obstruct a Police Officer in the performance of his or her duties,” Sankareh said.
He added: “A person who breaches a provision of this Public Health (Reopening and Regulation of Schools and Public Places) Orders, 2020, commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a fine of Two Thousand Dalasi (D2000) about ($40) or imprisonment for three (3) months or both.”
-0- PANA MSS/RA 14Oct2020
