14 Jun 2020

National COVID-19 Task Team has authorised use of electronic register through a BeSafe application.

The team’s coordinator, Dr Kereng Masupu, told a media briefing in Gaborone June 14 that the register would come handy in combating COVID-19 spread.

And, he said they expected  reduced queues at business premises and offices, thus also reducing risk of contracting the virus through congestion.

He also stated that greater Gaborone was put on lockdown from June 12 midnight, following probable COVID-19 cases in the region.

He said intense contact tracing started after eight probable cases were recorded at Gaborone Private Hospital last week. As of yesterday, Dr Masupu said there were now 16 probable cases, adding that some contacts had already been put on quarantine and the search was on for others.

He cautioned that the numbers might increase since contact tracing was still on.

He, therefore, advised people to stay home and non-essential employees to work from home for duration of lockdown.

Dr Masupu encouraged Batswana to cooperate with health officials in the fight against COVID-19.

So far, he said, 32 000 people had been tested for COVID-19, with 48 confirmed cases.

Of the 48 confirmed cases, 22 were recoveries while 24 were cases of foreigners who returned to their countries.

Dr Masupu said Botswana still had one active case and one death. ENDS