22 Apr 2020

Botswana has registered two more COVID-19 cases, coordinator of the COVID-19 Task Force Team, Dr Kereng Masupu, has announced

Addressing a media briefing this afternoon, Dr Masupu said the two cases, which were registered in the region of Metsimotlhabe-Molepolole, led to a total of 22 cases reported in the country so far. Only one death has been recorded.

Dr Masupu said, due to the demographical location of the said area, he was humstrung to disclose profiles of the two cases for fear of victimization. He also noted that the two cases were local transmissions bringing such to a total of eight.

He said they were ramping up targeted testing and currently their teams were in Molepolole, Metsimotlhabe, Mahalapye, Bobonong and Siviya following reports of contacts who were exposed to those who tested positive. To date, he said, Botswana had tested 5 023 samples.

Among the samples were people who attended a recent special sitting of Parliament and all tested negative for coronavirus. Therefore, they would be released from quarantine.

Dr Masupu also said the task force was undertaking its mandate of identifying, isolating and containing each case. He said advice from health professionals and relevant authorities would determine way forward in the current lockdown period. ends