27 May 2020

Ramokgwebana border officials on May 24 turned back a Zimbabwean truck driver after testing positive for COVID-19.

North East District Health Management Team coordinator, Ms Rodah Phindela said the truck driver arrived on May 21 and was tested.

She explained that when the results were released three days later, the Zimbabwean was the only one who tested positive among the 10 other truckers.

She said the other 10 drivers who were with him at the border were identified as his contacts.

She said the 10 contacts were escorted out of the country and advised to take all health precautions and self-quarantine in their respective countries.

She added that contact tracing was underway to establish any other contacts excluding the 10 truck drivers.

She noted that the truck drivers had established relations with some Batswana.

Ms Phindela also said they had noted that truck drivers were not adhering to social distancing while awaiting results.

She stated that the testing machine at Francistown was undergoing verification and was expected to be fully functional this week to help process results in the second city rather than sending them to Gaborone.

Ms Phindela added that it would speed up testing and reduce the waiting period by truck drivers.

The coordinator said they had identified an area in Tsamaya as a holding bay for truck drivers.

She said the area was being equipped with resources such as to ensure the truck drivers did not go elsewhere to access such. ENDS