19 Apr 2020

Health and Wellness Minister, Dr Lemogang Kwape says five more people have tested positive for Coronavirus, increasing the number of confirmed positive cases to 20.

Updating the nation through skype on the progress made in the fight against COVID – 19 on April 19, Dr Kwape said out of the total 20 confirmed positive case, six were from local transmission. 
To date, Dr Kwape said 4 547 samples had been collected, of which 3 050 were from those at quarantines while 1 497 were identified through contact tracing.  Dr Kwape also said of the 4 434 results released, 4 414 tested negative and 20 tested positive. One death has been recorded as a result of COVID –19, said Dr Kwape.  
Dr Kwape further revealed that April 19 marked the 10^th day of quarantine for Members of Parliament and all others people that had primary contact with a nurse who had tested positive and was on duty during the special Parliament proceedings. Therefore, they will all today undergo testing, said Dr Kwape. 
“Exercise due care while doing your job. The same precautionary measures that we share with members of the public, equally applies to health workers and all others who are on duty,” said Dr Kwape. 
“We still encourage people to stay home and continue with all other precautionary measures like washing their hands with clean water and soap regularly and using sanitisers. We have the power to stop the virus, the virus does not come to you, people carry it around,” said Dr Kwape.
Dr Kwape further revealed that front line workers who were directly in contact with COVID – 19 patients were housed at exclusive facilities to avoid interaction with the public and family members as such would likely result in the further spreading of the virus. 
Dr Kwape has also advised that even though the nation and the world as a whole was still faced with the challenge of fighting COVID – 19, it was important for the general public to continue taking note of their health conditions. Therefore, Dr Kwape said health facilities were still accessible for other health services, urging people to follow measures in place in order to get assistance. 
He further revealed that his ministry was also in the process of administering the flu vaccines as it was earlier announced, noting that they were awaiting delivery of an order of the vaccine from the manufacturer and the delay was due to the fact that other nations were also queuing for orders. ENDS