Effective Implementation of Public Health and Social Measures in Senegal: Situational Analysis

Public health and social measures should respond to data about the growth of the epidemic and be implemented in a way that engages communities. Communities should be involved in helping to determine strategies for adapting measures to the local context, protecting livelihoods, and introducing appropriate relief measures to counteract the economic impact of these measures. The government should counter misinformation with appropriate risk communication and engage with communities to ensure voluntary adherence to COVID-19 response measures.

• While initial reports of new cases in Senegal seemed stable, in the past two weeks the epidemic has grown significantly. Senegal applied PHSMs three weeks after the first case was reported, a time lag which is likely contributing to the increase in viral transmission within the country. Population mobility did drop by 40% when the PHSMs were implemented.
• Senegalese are keenly aware of the COVID-19 crisis and the vast majority think it will be a problem for the country, although less than half see themselves as being at high personal risk.
• The majority support the government response and trust government information about COVID-19. Most Senegalese were supportive of a wide range of personal and public health social measures to help limit the spread of the coronavirus, even though they might affect mobility and livelihoods.
• Over three-quarters of Senegalese were concerned about running out of food within a week if they had to stay home; note that the survey was completed before government began the program of social and economic support on April 3.
• There have been notably few COVID-19-related security incidents