09 Jun 2020

Churches in Maun have promised to ensure adherence to COVID-19 regulations.

In an interview, Maun Minister’s Fraternal secretary, Pastor Kinolo Makhokhoba said churches in Maun had no intention of putting the lives of their members at risk of contracting coronavirus.

In accordance with the pledge, the association recently organised a workshop for churches facilitated by the Ministry of Health and Wellness, Botswana Police Service and Department of Environmental Affairs.

Pastor Makgokhoba said the purpose was for churches to have a common understanding on what was expected of them.

He said churches were alive to the fact that they had different doctrines with some having practices such as laying on of hands which might expose people to the virus.

Pastor Makhokhoba said the workshop helped to address such issues with the relevant officers adding that churches would follow regulations and encourage congregants to comply.

 Head of preventive services, Ngami Regional Health Management Team, Dr Sandra Maripe suggested that churches have health focal persons who would ensure that mandatory COVID-19  requirements were met.

The requirements included availability of hand washing soap or sanitizers at entry points, registration of congregants and use of masks by all who entered church premises, she said.

Dr Maripe said other regulations were that only 50 congregants could attend a  service and decontamination with chlorine based chemicals of shared surfaces at least twice a day after each session.

Maun Administration Authority environmental health officer, Ms Lebogang Motsumi said churches were also mandated to have a thermometer in place and to observe social distancing of at least one metre.

In addition, she said, toilets, hand washing basins and a waste collection plan were also requirements in churches.

Ms Motsumi observed that most churches in Maun were compliant on the first Sunday of reopening.

The few that did not comply were given a week to have addressed their shortfalls such as lack of thermometers. Ends