Hajj: Senegal strengthens health controls against Covid after deaths in Mecca

Is the virus making a comeback? Senegalese authorities have carried out voluntary screening tests for Covid-19 and reintroduced the wearing of masks at the international airport as pilgrims arrived by plane following the deaths of many worshipers in Mecca, they said on Monday.

Authorities suspect some of the more than 1,300 deaths during the hajj are caused by a respiratory syndrome such as Covid-19, Health Minister Ibrahim Sy said during a visit to Diamniadio International Airport on Sunday.

“Initially we thought it was due to heat waves because the temperature was excessively high, but we realized that among the deaths there was a respiratory syndrome,” he explained of the deaths in Mecca, according to the recording. his speech published in the media.

“Respiratory epidemic”

“We told ourselves that there is probably a respiratory type epidemic and it is our duty to be able to monitor returning pilgrims by setting up a screening system for anything particularly related to Covid-19,” he said. he added.

In a press release on Monday, the Ministry of Health said it had “strengthened the medical surveillance system at air borders” by deploying a team at the airport responsible for voluntary screening testing and identifying pilgrims with influenza-like illnesses.

Of the 124 rapid tests, 78 gave positive results for the Covid-19 virus, including 36 subsequently confirmed by PCR tests, the ministry said. “There is no need to worry, but there is also a need for prevention,” the minister said on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia said on Sunday that 1,301 people had died during the hajj. The official SPA news agency cited the fact that many believers were undertaking the large annual Muslim pilgrimage without permission and walking long distances in scorching heat and without adequate escort. The daily l’Observateur reported five deaths among Senegalese pilgrims.