25 Oct 2020

Greater Selebi Phikwe has rolled out a sentinel surveillance survey in Selebi Phikwe and Bobonong to determine COVID-19 transmission rate in the two areas.

Greater Selebi Phikwe District Health Management Team Coordinator Mr Mpaphi Mbulawa said in an interview that the sentinel surveillance survey would run for three months from October to December.

He said four targeted areas in Selebi Phikwe had already been identified, namely the hospital, mall, bus rank and Botshabelo police.

He said COVID-19 tests would be targeting health workers and patients, bus and taxi operators, street vendors, private security personnel, staff from various shops, and the general public.

He said the findings of the study would determine whether to conduct community testing or not.

Touching on the COVID-19 update, Mr Mbulawa said Greater Selebi Phikwe which is made up of Selebi Phikwe, Mmadinare and Bobonong clusters had registered a total of 37 confirmed positive cases.

Of the 37 cases, he said 14 were for Selebi Phikwe, 15 for Bobonong and eight for Mmadinare clusters, and further stated that a total of 20 cases were still active, whilst 17 recovered from the virus.

However, he said the region had not recorded any COVID-19 related deaths.

He said active cases were managed regionally, adding that  the area was anticipating to record more positive COVID-19 cases.

He encouraged the public to adhere to health protocols by wearing masks at all times in public spaces, washing hands regularly and social distancing.

He also urged the public to avoid unnecessary travels, adding that the war against COVID-19 pandemic could be won only if the public adhered to health protocols.

Mr Mbulawa also raised concern over wedding celebrations in the region saying that they attracted a lot of people thus contravening COVID-19 health protocols which allow for a maximum of 50 people.

He observed that some residents also provided food during wedding celebrations putting people at risk of contracting coronavirus.

He added that eight and five people with COVID-19 in Mmadinare and Selebi Phikwe respectively, contracted the virus after attending a wedding.

Furthermore, he encouraged taxi and bus operators to also comply with COVID-19 health protocols, adding that most of them were no longer registering passengers making it difficult for health workers to conduct contact tracing. Ends