27 Mar 2020

Twenty two Batswana and foreign nationals resident in Botswana returning from other countries have been placed under a 14-day quarantine in Kasane.

This brought to 55 the number of people quarantined in Kasane as at this morning (March 27). A total of 33 were accommodated at Chobe Brigade on March 25 while the latest 22 were at Big Five Lodge in Kazungula.

Initially, there were 23 people (22 from Kazungula Border Post and one from Ngoma border post), but one person, a UNDP special envoy, was released to continue with his work on the coronavirus outbreak.

Chobe District commissioner, Ms Sekgabo Makgosa, confirmed in an interview that she released the envoy on instruction from Office of the President and Ministry of Health and Wellness.

Some of those on quarantine had earlier complained that someone was given special treatment. 

At the time of going to press, it was not yet clear as to who would foot the accommodation bill since negotiations between government and the authorities in Kasane were still on going.

Government has put preventive measures in place to have all individuals coming to Botswana from high risk countries subjected to a 14-day mandatory quarantine. ENDS