2nd April 2020
Botswana will at midnight commence a state of emergency for 28 days and a process of extreme social distancing with movement out of homes restricted to those performing essential services and transporting essential goods to contain spread of Corona Virus through touching or coughing.
Government has also moved quickly to ban public gatherings of more than 100 people for 30 days for religious activities, sporting events, conferences, wedding celebrations, night clubs/bars, music concerts, parties and gymnasiums.
It has also suspended all civil and national registration services except for registration and issuance of death certificates. Border posts will close except for Ramatlabana, Pioneer, Tlokweng, Martins Drift, Ramokgwebana, Kazangula Road, Kazangula Ferry, Ngoma, Mohembo and Mamuno.
“The public is informed that marriages which were scheduled to be solemnized during the extremesocial distancing period will be suspended until after the State of Public Emergency,” said Anna Maria Mokgethi, Minister of Nationality, Immigration and Gender Affairs at media conference today.
Botswana has recently experienced 1 death from corona virus from a citizen who attended a funeral in South Africa and has 3 confirmed cases of the disease but is trying to move swiftly to avert an escalation in the pandemic with some health workers at the fore front of the battle expressing misgivings over their personal safety with the cumulative number of specimens received so far reaching 670 and 570 tested and officially released. 562 tests have been negative.
There are 5 probable cases that have been received in the last two days which have been sent to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases in South Africa for verification. Two are already quarantined in Scottish Livingstone and three already quarantined in Ramotswe(Police College).
“Today we are testing – 100 specimens that came in yesterday and some today,” said Dr Lemogang Kwape, Minister of Health and Wellness at a press brief for the local media at the Mass Media Centre at BTV auditorium this evening.
Officials have also moved quickly to dismiss health workers fears over their personal safety saying the Government is doing all it can to try to address stakeholder fears with efforts hampered by global demand for personal protection equipment causing shortages. “All medical personnel at 8 isolation centers around the country have personal protective equipment namely gloves, masks and overalls. That is where people with symptoms of corona are isolated,” said Doreen Motshwega, Spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Wellness.
She said, “The estimated 1,600 people at the 26-27 mandatory quarantine centres around the country for those returning or visiting country are the ones being served by health workers wearing gloves and masks. They do not have full gear because of difficulties we are experiencing sourcing them.”
The Ministry of Health and wellness today revealed that all health facilities(public and private) will be open including all pharmacies, laboratories, medical aid insurance companies and emergency services. Visiting hours at all hospitals will be limited to 1 person per patient once a day.
People with flu like symptoms are being encouraged to call their local health facilities for assistance. All facilities used for quarantining are currently operating as health facilities and as such will be allowed to operate until the end of the quarantine period. Those classified as essential services travel using COVID-19 travel permit issued by state.
All individuals who have been coming into Botswana from high risk countries will not be allowed entry into Botswana. These countries include China, Japan, South Korea, Iran, USA, UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and India.
