29 Jul 2020

Botswana has recorded new COVID-19 cases in Mogoditshane, Oodi, Good Hope and Gaborone.

A media release from the Presidential COVID-19 Task Force says in respect of the Mogoditshane case, a patient who was seen at Bokamoso Private Hospital tested positive for COVID-19.

After contact tracing, 11 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Mogoditshane.

“Ten of them are students while one is an acquaintance to one of the students. The rest are awaiting their results,” says the media release.

The release explains that all those traced are in quarantine as contact tracing continues while the source or origin of the current school outbreak is still under investigation. 

In Gaborone, the release says, a Motswana adult male with no travel history was diagnosed with COVID-19 at Gaborone Private Hospital on Tuesday. 

Meanwhile, following extensive contact tracing, the task force team indicates that four institutions in Greater Gaborone area being; Botswana Open University, Masa Primary School, Terrence Private School and Bonnington Junior Secondary School were exposed to COVID-19. 

“Parents, scholars and the greater community are assured that health authorities, through the district health management teams are on the ground for extensive assessments and course of action, says the release.

 In Oodi, there are two confirmed cases of COVID-19, being an adult male and his wife. “In this instance a Motswana who transported goods from a neighbouring country did not enter quarantine as required by the COVID-19 regulations,” the release says.

The two, according to the release, reported flu-like symptoms on July 15 and 18 respectively and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19.  Contact tracing in Oodi has led to quarantine of 14 contacts.

The media release also says another positive case was one from Good Hope, being a citizen of Botswana who illegally crossed the border.

The release also says the latest positive results mean that the country is likely to experience a surge in local COVID-19 cases, therefore the public is urged to leave their homes only when it is absolutely necessary.

The public is urged to continue being vigilant by practising applicable COVID-19 protocols such as using sanitisers, washing hands with water and soap, wearing masks, registering at service points and practicing social distancing. ends