09 Sep 2020

A total of 9 048 COVID-19 tests were performed in Chobe as of September 6.

Chobe Regional Health Management Team (RHMT) coordinator, Dr Botshelo Kgwaadira told a District Emergency Operating Centre (DEOC) meeting on Tuesday, that out of the 9 048 tested, 7 420 were truck drivers, 739 frontline workers (police, immigration officials, bridge workers, drivers, members of Botswana Defence Force, BURS, Port Health workers clearing agents and Kwa Nokeng staff).

He said the number also included 579 people who were on mandatory quarantine, 270 health workers, 18 detainees, 11 students and 11 diplomats.

He said 189 tested positive while the rest tested negative.

Dr Kgwaadira said of all the 189 positive cases, 180 cases were of truck drivers who were repatriated, seven were those on mandatory and home quarantine and two were local frontline workers.

He however, said only two of the confirmed cases are still under isolation and the rest had recovered and were discharged.

Dr Kgwaadira thanked the Chobe DEOC for performing well regardless of logistical challenges. He raised a concern that the district was among those that did not do well on psycho-social support for the people on quarantine.

Earlier in her report, quarantine manager, Ms Virginia Matlhatsa said there were 62 clients currently in the four district’s quarantine sites.

She said challenges faced at the quarantine sites included people who failed to pay their share of quarantine fees, issues of language barrier between quarantine staff and clients, lack of psycho-social support for the clients and shortage of transport that resulted in sharing of vehicles between the quarantine sites and user departments.

Dr Clement Mukadi said currently, the district did not have an isolation centre but three sites, namely Chobe Brigade, Education Centre and Kachikau Clinic had been identified.

Dr Mukadi said the Chobe Brigade had a capacity of 22 beds, Education Centre 32 while Kachikau Clinic has 20.

He further said funds estimated at P300 000 had been approved for the upgrade of Chobe Brigade and Education Centre.

Chobe district council’s chief and social community development officer, Mr Ogoditsemang Seleme noted that the district currently faced acute shortage of social workers and the only two at the hospital were overwhelmed by work load.

He explained that during lockdown, the council engaged temporary social workers to fast track assessments but the arrangement had since been stopped due to budgetary constraints. ENDS