05 Apr 2020

Deputy district commissioner Mr Ewetse Selelo has cautioned the public against taking decisions that would compromise their health.

Mr Selelo said this when addressing Boteti West Councilors on Corona virus in Rakops. He stated that corona virus was a natural disaster and its situation dictated that people should not take decisions that would compromise their health.

He said it was important to weigh decisions and establish whether the decision made would prevent virus transmission or worsen the virus chain.

The pandemic, he said, compelled the public to do things in a different way and would in future dictate that communication done through video conferencing.

Mr Selelo implored people to choose one area where they would be staying during the State of Public Emergency, stating that those who violated self-quarantine would be subjected to mandatory quarantine.

Action would be taken against those who dismissed their employees from work due to COVID 19, he said.

He explained there was an arrangement of treating a dead body of a person who died due to corona virus, adding that contact tracing would only be done on those who tested positive.

He stated that four people had been released from quarantine in Letlhakane and had tested negative. Government, he said, had made a standard practice that results from the Laboratory support would be released within 24 to 72 hours.

Mr Selelo indicated that four Botswana Housing Corporation houses had been identified as quarantines in Rakops.

Commenting, Senior Superintendent Sarah Gabathusi said lockdown dictated that those who fall under essential services should not be seen loitering whilst not on duty.

Snr Supt Gabathusi said those violating 14 days of self-quarantine would be compelled to start from the beginning.

She stated that the police had confiscated stacks of alcohol from operators who practiced illegal sale of alcohol, citing there were those operators who took alcohol stacks to their homesteads prior to the closure of bars. She further indicated that operating shebeens in cattleposts was prohibited.

Senior assistant council secretary, Mr Milton Keitshokile called on the public to observe precautionary measures against COVID-19 in everything that they do.

Mr Keitshokile noted that people exchanged spades at the graveyards during funerals, citing it was essential to sanitise people and spades to contain the virus.

He also stated that washing basins would be installed in all primary schools and toilets would be built where there would be shortage in response to COVID-19.

Commenting, Councilor Thomas Kgethenyane of Khumaga-Moremaoto asked whether those who would be given travel permits would be tested and also requested explanation on the areas which the permits would be restricted to.

Councillor Kgethenyane also asked whether people would be allowed to herd their livestock.

Councillor Balopi Chilume of Orapa had earlier on complained that employees working in companies sub-contracted in the mines were dismissed from work without pay prior to the State of Emergency.

Councilor Batsweletse Kgagamedi of Tsienyane West expressed concern that there was shortage of toilets in all schools, thereby requesting that allocation of toilets be distributed fairly to all schools. Ends/bopa/dm050420