27th April 2020
Own Correspondent
After twenty-four days of a national lockdown as a strategic measure to minimize and contain the risk of the spread and transmission of COVID-19 in Botswana, officials have released a blueprint for the gradual opening of the economy without adversely affecting efforts to prevent and contain corona virus.
The majority of Batswana have complied with the health protocols of extreme social distancing and they have also restricted their movements by staying in their homes, which have contributed significantly to the containment of this pandemic.
At the commencement of the national lockdown, Botswana had imported cases of COVID-19 and no reports of locally transmitted cases. The most significant development driving the increase of new diagnosis of COVID-19 has been the occurrence of locally transmitted COVID-19 cases.
“As you may be aware, as at 25th April 2020 we had received six thousand, two hundred and ten (6210) samples for testing, out of which six thousand, one hundred and eighty-eight (6188) were negative and twenty-two (22) were positive with one fatality and it is my prayer and hope that this figure does not change. The six thousand, two hundred and ten (6210) samples include two thousand, seven hundred and two (2702) suspected cases and contacts,” said President Mokgweetsi Masisi, a televised address to the country.
He said, “So far, a total of three thousand, five hundred and eight (3508) people have been placed under quarantine and some in self-isolation. I am happy to report that the twenty-one (21) cases that have tested positive are all asymptomatic and on the way to full recovery. Therefore, it is my ardent hope that in the fullness of time they will join their families.”
According to officials the discovery of locally transmitted cases has prompted Government to ramp up its testing through contact tracing. A new cluster of COVID-19 outbreak is being actively investigated in Metsimotlhabe where a total of seven (7) Batswana have tested positive for COVID-19.
These seven (7) cases from the Metsimotlhabe outbreak were exposed to COVID-19 prior to the national lockdown and several Batswana who were not aware of their exposure travelled to their home villages across the country. Active contact tracing and assessment for possible COVID-19 infection for all persons known to have been exposed in Metsimotlhabe are ongoing across the country with support from several local and international partners.
“This outbreak has resulted in several public and private areas around Metsimotlhabe being treated as potentially infectious. To this end, appropriate disinfection of these places has commenced under the guidance of health officials,” said Masisi.
Two (2) new cases of confirmed local COVID-19 transmission were diagnosed from Metsimotlhabe on 22nd April 2020. The known contacts of these two (2) cases have been placed in mandatory quarantine and are awaiting further testing.
In the unlikely scenario where there are unknown contacts from these two cases, such contacts pose a risk of spreading COVID-19 for at least fourteen (14) days starting from 22nd April to 6th May 2020.
It, therefore, follows that any person exposed within the aforementioned fourteen (14) days should have completed their self-isolation between 7th May and 21st May 2020.
Field teams from Ministry of Health and Wellness have also been deployed to Ramotswa, Molepolole and Siviya to augment District Health Management Teams (DHMTs ) to conduct active case finding because these places have had confirmed COVID-19 cases.
In Mahalapye and Bobonong, there are persons who form part of the Metsimotlhabe COVID-19 outbreak, hence their inclusion in the contact tracing.
“It is on the basis of these findings that the COVID-19 Presidential Task Force advised that the national lockdown period as is be extended by one week starting from 1st May to 7th May 2020 and a further two weeks during which the lockdown would be sequentially eased. The Government has accordingly accepted this recommendation,” said Masisi.
An extended national lockdown involves an exit plan which is based on the success anticipated. The extension of the current twenty-eight (28) day lockdown will be implemented in the following phases:
- Phase 1: We will extend the current lockdown period conditions by one week, that is, from May 1st to May 7th, 2020. During this period, we will also develop and finalize regulations for a phased lifting of lockdown rules in low-risk sectors.
- Phase 2: Starting from May 8th to May 14, we will lift in a phased manner, some lockdown rules while at the same time introducing additional plans for further lifting of the remaining lockdown rules.
- Phase 3: From May 15th to May 22nd, which will be the final week of the lockdown extension, we will be lifting the remaining rules from the original lockdown rules implemented on March 30th, 2020.
“This success is dependent on the cooperation and adherence to the current lockdown rules by citizens and residents of this country. In addition, it is important to note that the plan to relax the lockdown rules will be guided by the COVID-19 disease activity in our communities. That is, a faster relaxation of rules will occur if the threat of COVID-19 becomes very low. However, in the event that the threat of COVID-19 outbreak and transmission, exceeds the current level at any point, a return to the original twenty-eight (28) day national lockdown rules or stricter rules will be put in place,” said Masisi.
He said, “My fellow citizens and other compatriots the economic relief package that I announced at the beginning of the national lockdown is being implemented by relevant Government Ministries and they will continue giving you updates on their progress. Furthermore, I would like to reassure you that Government will continue to give you support to mitigate the negative impact of this pandemic through food supplies to vulnerable families.”
Three hundred thousand, one hundred and fifty-six (300,156) households have been assessed so far and out of these, two hundred and forty-four thousand and eighty (244,080) have been recommended for assistance. To date, forty-seven thousand, three hundred and ninety-three (47,393) households have been assisted with food packages which include agricultural products in season. So far one hundred and fifty million, eight hundred and seventy thousand and eighty-three Pula (P150, 870, 083.00) has been earmarked for this exercise.
Government have pledged to scale up the distribution process of food packages and this assistance will continue until the situation regarding the containment of COVID-19 is fully under control.
