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 Confirmed cases in Touba have risen seven-fold to more than 190
since a market trader fell ill in April, ending a two-week lull in
new cases. Now, as other countries in West Africa, including Nigeria
and Ghana, are beginning to ease lockdowns to assist those whose
livelihoods were disrupted, Senegal is tightening restrictions to
try to contain the outbreak.
A cluster of cases in Touba in March prompted President Macky Sall
to close schools and ban religious gatherings, one of the first
leaders in sub-Saharan Africa to do so. A Senegalese man returning
from Italy had infected 17 others, including his 2-year-old child,
just weeks before Senegal's second city was due to host thousands of
pilgrims at a religious festival.
Touba is the headquarters of a powerful Sufi Muslim brotherhood and
known to some as "little Mecca".
Its Grand Mosque, whose white minarets tower over the city of 1.5
million people, was ordered to close its doors. A dusk-to-dawn
curfew was imposed and public awareness campaigns launched.
But despite these efforts, the city confirmed its 27th case on April
11 - the first since March 26. The man had not travelled abroad or
come into contact with other known patients, a worrying development
suggesting the disease had taken root.
The number of cases in Touba has climbed steadily since then despite
the intervention of the army, which is testing for COVID-19, the
respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus, at a makeshift
field hospital and decontaminating streets and markets.
"Perhaps it's ignorance or even some denial of the disease," said
Sylla Mbacke, head doctor at Touba's main health centre, Darou
Marnane. "There are some that don't believe in it at all."
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WORSHIPPERS TURNED AWAY
Touba appeared quieter than usual during a recent visit by Reuters, but despite
government guidelines only a few people were wearing masks in the streets. Some
sought entry to the mosque for Friday prayers but were turned away.
Mbacke's centre is coping with the caseload, thanks in part to the army, which
is helping to treat non-coronavirus patients. But with no ventilators or
intensive care beds, it could quickly become overwhelmed.
The World Health Organization has warned that Africa could become the next
epicentre of the virus.
Senegal, which has recorded more than 1,700 cases and 19 deaths, last week
ordered markets to close on certain days, while supermarkets must limit customer
numbers.
At Touba's main market, ground zero for the second wave of cases, trader
Abdoulaye Diagne said the new restrictions were making life difficult. The
market must now close at 3 p.m., making it harder to earn a living, and
residents are unable to gather to break their daily fast during the sacred month
of Ramadan.
"What can be done apart from pray for this disease to leave the planet," he
said, as he packed up the plastic cups he had been selling to go home.
(Reporting by Christophe Van der Perre; Writing by Alessandra Prentice; Editing
by Alex Richardson)
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