More than 200 Senegalese soldiers returning from The Gambia where they served in a regional security force have tested positive for COVID - 19 , Senegal ’ s army and health ministry said Tuesday .
An earlier army statement had said 100 members of the more than 600 -strong contingent had contracted the virus.
The 208 soldiers are staying at an army “hotel ” in the village of Guereo , some 60 kilometres ( 35 miles ) south of the capital Dakar, an army PR official told AFP .
The facility hosts troops who test positive for Covid -19 but are asymptomatic , he said .
The Gambia , a finger of territory surrounded by Senegal save for its Atlantic coast , has confirmed 3 ,428 cases of the disease and 105 deaths .
Senegal , for its part, has declared 14 , 529 cases and 298 deaths.
The Senegalese troops were part of a West African force first deployed in January 2017. They were there to assure a smooth transition of power after outgoing president Yahya Jammeh refused to concede defeat at the ballot box to Adama Barrow .