31 Mar 2020

Health officials have quarantined four people at Cresta Bosele Hotel in Selebi Phikwe after arriving from South Africa.

Briefing the MP for Selebi Phikwe West, Mr Dithapelo Keorapetse, on the level of preparedness for COVID-19 on Monday, Selebi Phikwe Hospital manager, Mr Lyster

Motlhono said the four, comprising three people from Bobirwa and a student who arrived from eSwatini, were placed on a 14-day mandatory quarantine on Sunday as a precautionary measure against the spread of coronavirus.

Mr Motlhono said the hotel and Industrial Clinic had been identified as quarantine and isolation centres respectively.

He said the hotel had allocated 42 beds in the fight against the global pandemic which had already hit neighbouring countries.

He said in addition four rooms would be spared for health personnel who would be working on a 12-hour shift to screen and monitor those quarantined on a daily basis.

He added that should those quarantined show vital signs, they would be moved to the Industrial Clinic isolation centre.

He noted that security had been reinforced, including the police and members of the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) who would be patrolling the area.

Furthermore, he said entry into the hotel was not allowed, adding that families of those quarantined could only drop their belongings at the gate. He said the quarantined people would also not be allowed to leave their rooms and that their food would be dropped at the door.

He noted that an ambulance had been availed in case of emergency.

Mr Keorapetse thanked the Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team for their preparedness.

He said there was need to support one another,  and appealed to the council and the district administration to always ensure that the community adhered to precautionary measures put in place by government.

He also appealed to the community to support government in the fight against COVID-19, adding that there were disturbing reports of people who were still selling alcohol from their homes. The MP also promised to help spread COVID-19 messages to the community.

Deputy district commissioner for Selebi Phikwe, Mr Mokgethi Nfila told the MP that his office, together with Selebi Phikwe Town Council, were working round the clock to ensure that the community followed the set precautionary measures.

He said they embarked on daily round-ups to ensure that hair salons, bars and bottle stores were closed and further ensured that churches also obeyed preventive measures.

He added that they also used publicity address systems to spread the COVID-19 preventative messages to the public. ENDS